Meet the "Faces of FruitFast"
Steve & Dana detar
FOURTH GENERATION OWNERS
“I still remember stirring batches of jams and jellies with my grandparents,” recalls Steve. “By the time I was a teenager I could make every product we sold. Not only were they wonderful teachers, but they passed on a strong work ethic.”
Growing up, Steve always enjoyed helping his grandparents with the family business. He met Dana while attending Hillsdale College. Upon graduation, Steve decided to manufacture and distribute many of his Grandmothers cherished recipes. Two years later, he and Dana were together in the kitchen stirring, bottling and growing the business and their own family. They added new favorites like Cherry BBQ and Jalapeno Cherry Salsa.
In the late 90's the couple read about new discoveries regarding Cherries and their health benefits. Our focus shifted with the addition of Cherry Juice Concentrate (and other variety's to follow) and thus FruitFast was born.
Confident that they have instilled in their children that same passion that pushed Steve and his grandmother to find success, Dana and Steve have began transitioning towards retirement. They enjoy spending their Summers on Torch and recently began spending their winters in Florida.
In the Office
Give us a call - Talk to a Real Person
Jodi
Customer Relations, Sales & Shipping
Jodi has been a member of the Brownwood team since the summer of 1999 when she began scooping candy at the Country Store.
She is a mom of 2 awesome kids - one who just graduated high-school and the other enjoying the second grade. She loves spending time with her Weimaraner, who never seems to slow down, and has a great husband who puts up with them all.
Jodi is also the treasurer of the district library, loves meeting up with her book club girls and tries to support local restaurants on a weekly basis (mainly because she doesn’t like to cook).
Ken
Sales, Food Safety & Product Development
Originally from Waterford, MI, Ken started out on the Brownwood production line over 20 years ago and has enjoyed assisting the Brownwood team ever since.
With a handsome son and an active Border Collie on the home-front it's easy to say he's always on the go.
You may recognize his voice when calling direct to place an order. Otherwise, he'll be handling the Brownwood food safety program and product logistics.
When away from the office, you may find him roaming the beautiful shores of the Grand Traverse Bay, playing his guitar at the local pubs, or as a past PGA Golf Professional on the first tee of a nearby golf course;)
Richard
Shipping, Packaging & Sales
Starting out in the fudge shop back in the 70's, it wasn't until the 90's that Richard returned to work for us again.
Over the last 30 years, Richard has been integral in helping adapt and change to the ever evolving world of shipping and packaging.
If you place an order there is an 80% chance Richard will have a hand in fulfilling it.
With a passion for Snorkel and Scuba, Richard enjoys taking yearly trips to Mexico to go cave diving, deep sea scuba-diving and more. He has been on over 20 trips!
Production Team
Hunter
Fifth Generation Family Member & Board Member at CherryFlexAs the eldest of the fifth generation, Hunter has grown up amidst the evolving family business. From early memories of his father Steve's "Country Kitchen" to witnessing significant growth, Hunter has been an integral part of the journey. He also serves on the board at CherryFlex, contributing to the strategic direction of the company. Outside of work, Hunter is an outdoor enthusiast. He loves spending time on the water, playing fetch with his dog Lola, and embracing his passion for camping, always equipped with the newest tools and gadgets.
Quinton
Production & Quality Control
Quinton started working at Brownwood 15 years ago, but started visiting the Brownwood Country Store when he was a little kid. In fact, his parents used to work at the Brownwood Restaurant back in the 1980s!
Outside of work, Quinton enjoys spending time with his family and in the outdoors.
Everything Else
From a young age, Weston has been a vital part of FruitFast, involved in everything from bottling to sales. Alongside his brother Jordan, he runs the seasonal shops and oversees the production of our jarred goods. A lover of the lake and sports, Weston cherishes time with family and friends. His passion for travel recently took him to Brazil to visit relatives.
Jordan
Web Design, Marketing, Production & Shipping
From a young age, Jordan was captivated by the family business, whether watching his dad make Kream Mustard or exploring his grandmother's flea market. He recognized early on that they had something special. In the business, Jordan is a jack-of-all-trades, overseeing web design and newsletter emails. Outside of work, Jordan is an outdoor enthusiast, enjoying time by the creek, on the water, on trails, or on the pickleball court. He relishes moments with his wife and two little boys, dreaming that one day they too will join the family business.
Social Media
Sally
SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER
"Now that I am an adult, my favorite product is undoubtably the Original Kream Mustard! I am also a fan of the CherryFlex."
In her free time you can find Sally spending time with her husband and 6 year old son (AKA FruitFast Boy)
She enjoys rock hunting, mushroom foraging, cooking, metal-smithing, taking hikes, seeing live music and spending time on beautiful Torch Lake. You can find her Petoskey stones jewelry for sale in the summer at the Honey House!
FruitFast Boy
SOCIAL MEDIA MODEL
Our social media model and 6th generation at FruitFast - Brownwood Acres. This little (medium sized) boy loves trying tasty and healthy concoctions that his mom, Sally, is constantly whipping up.
His favorite part of the family business is helping his uncles cook (and mainly eat) donuts on Sunday mornings. But FruitFast boy isn't always about the sugar, he maintains his own herb garden next to his papa's green house.