How We Make It — and Everything Else You've Wanted to Know
How We Make It — and Everything Else You've Wanted to Know
At Farmer K Homestead, "small batch" isn't a marketing phrase. It means Kerrina is personally involved in every step — from sourcing the fruit to sealing the bag. This page walks through exactly how we make what we make, and answers the questions we hear most often at the farmers market table.
About Our Process
🍓 Freeze Dried Snacks — How They're Made
Freeze drying is one of the oldest and most effective ways to preserve food — NASA has used it for decades, and homesteaders have embraced it for the same reason: it works.
Here's the process behind every bag of Farmer K freeze dried snacks:
Step 1 — Source We start with fresh, ripe fruit — locally sourced whenever possible, and always selected for quality. We prefer imperfect or "number 2" produce when it's available: it tastes just as good, reduces food waste, and supports local growers.
Step 2 — Prep Fruit is washed, trimmed, and cut to size by hand. No additives, no coatings, no pre-treatments. What goes into the freeze dryer is exactly what ends up in your bag.
Step 3 — Freeze Dry The prepared fruit goes into our commercial freeze dryer, where it's first frozen to around -40°F, then placed in a vacuum chamber. The vacuum causes the ice to convert directly to vapor — a process called sublimation — without ever passing through a liquid stage. This removes 98–99% of moisture while keeping the cell structure of the fruit intact.
Why this matters: Unlike dehydrating, which uses heat and can degrade nutrients, flavor, and color, freeze drying preserves the original taste, color, and nutritional profile almost perfectly. The result is a crunchy, lightweight snack that tastes like concentrated fresh fruit.
Step 4 — Package Once freeze dried, snacks are immediately sealed in Mylar-lined bags with oxygen absorbers to prevent moisture re-absorption. Every bag is labeled by hand and checked before it ships or goes to market.
🍬 Freeze Dried Candy — How It's Different
Freeze dried candy follows the same process, but the results are dramatically different from the original candy — which is part of the fun.
When candy is freeze dried, the sugar structure expands and the moisture is removed, creating a texture that's simultaneously airy, crunchy, and intensely flavored. A chewy Air Heads candy becomes a light, puffed, crackly treat that dissolves on your tongue. The flavor is actually more concentrated, not less.
We source quality candy, freeze dry it in small batches, and package immediately. There's no added sugar, no coatings, no artificial flavoring beyond what was in the original candy.
🫙 Homemade Jams & Preserves — How They're Made
Our jams are made the old-fashioned way: fresh fruit, cane sugar, lemon juice, and pectin. That's it.
Step 1 — Source Fruit is sourced locally when available, with a preference for imperfect produce. We taste every batch before it goes into the pot.
Step 2 — Cook Fruit is cooked down in small batches on the stovetop with cane sugar and lemon juice. We don't rush this step — low and slow develops the depth of flavor that sets homemade jam apart from anything you'll find on a grocery shelf.
Step 3 — Set We use natural pectin to set the jam to our preferred consistency — spreadable, not stiff. Each batch is tested before jarring.
Step 4 — Water Bath Can Finished jam is ladled into sterilized glass jars and processed in a water bath canner. This creates the vacuum seal that makes our jams shelf stable for up to 18 months without refrigeration or preservatives.
Every jar is labeled by hand with the flavor and batch date.
🍞 Sourdough Bread — How It's Made
Our sourdough starts with a live starter culture that's been maintained and fed over time. Every loaf has three ingredients: unbleached flour, filtered water, and sea salt.
Dough is mixed by hand, cold-proofed overnight, and baked to order. We don't make loaves in advance and hold them — when you order, we bake. This means your loaf is as fresh as it gets.
Important: Sourdough is a made-to-order item with a 5–10 business day lead time. We plan production for loaves to ship without any delays of weekends or holidays.
Frequently Asked Questions
📦 Shelf Life & Storage
How long do freeze dried snacks last? Sealed and stored in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, our freeze dried fruit snacks stay fresh for 12–18 months. Freeze dried vegetables and emergency food items have a shelf life of 10–25+ years when sealed properly. Once opened, consume within 1–2 weeks for best flavor and crunch.
Do freeze dried snacks need to be refrigerated? No. One of the biggest benefits of freeze drying is that the product is fully shelf stable at room temperature. Just keep the bag sealed and away from heat and moisture.
How long do the jams last? Unopened jars are shelf stable for up to 18 months. Once opened, refrigerate and use within 3–4 weeks.
How should I store the sourdough bread? Store at room temperature in a paper bag or bread box for up to 3 days. For longer storage, slice and freeze — sourdough freezes beautifully.
🌿 Ingredients & Sourcing
What ingredients are in your freeze dried snacks? Single-ingredient varieties (Strawberries, Carrots, Beets) contain only that fruit or vegetable — nothing else. Mixed varieties (Fruit Bites, Power Bites, mixed fruit medleys) contain only the fruits listed, plus chia seeds where noted. No added sugar, no preservatives, no coatings.
Is there added sugar in the freeze dried fruit snacks? No. The sweetness comes entirely from the fruit itself. Freeze drying concentrates the natural sugars, which is why the snacks taste so intensely flavored.
What about the freeze dried candy — does it have added sugar? Freeze dried candy starts with commercially produced candy, which contains sugar as part of the original product. We don't add anything — we simply freeze dry the candy as-is. The sugar content is the same as the original candy.
Where do you source your fruit? We prioritize local and regional sources, including farmers market vendors and local farms when available. We also work with "number 2" or imperfect produce suppliers to reduce food waste. Sourcing varies by season and availability — if you have questions about a specific product, reach out and we'll tell you exactly where that batch came from.
Are your products gluten-free? Our freeze dried snacks and jams are naturally gluten-free. Our sourdough bread is made with unbleached wheat flour and is not gluten-free. We produce all products in a home kitchen environment, so cross-contamination cannot be guaranteed.
Are your products vegan? Our freeze dried fruit and vegetable snacks and all jams are vegan. Freeze dried candy may contain animal-derived ingredients depending on the candy used — check the product description for specifics.
🛒 Ordering & Production
How long does it take to process my order? Most orders are processed within 5–10 business days. Because everything is made in small batches, we don't maintain large standing inventory. Your order may be made fresh after you place it — which is a feature, not a bug.
Can I pre-order for farmers market pickup? Yes. Place your order online and select local delivery at checkout (use the market address), or contact us to arrange pickup at a specific market location.
Do you take custom or wholesale orders? Yes, for both. We offer bulk pricing for local businesses, restaurants, boutiques, and corporate gifting. Reach out via the contact page to discuss.
Can I request a specific jam flavor or custom batch? Sometimes — seasonal availability and production schedule permitting. Contact us and we'll let you know what's possible.
🚚 Shipping & Local Delivery
Do you ship nationwide? Yes. We ship to all 50 states via ground shipping. Orders over $65 ship free. Orders under $65 have a flat-rate shipping fee calculated at checkout.
Why does shipping cost so much for small orders? We hear this one at the market table a lot. The honest answer: shipping small, lightweight packages is genuinely expensive through USPS and UPS — rates have risen significantly. We've set our $65 free shipping threshold as low as we can while keeping the business sustainable. Bundling a few items together is the best way to get to free shipping.
Do you offer local delivery? Yes — we deliver in Long Beach, Bellflower, Lakewood, Cerritos, Seal Beach, and surrounding communities. Select local delivery at checkout.
How do I know if I'm in the local delivery area? Place your order and select local delivery at checkout — if your address is outside our delivery zone, we'll let you know and switch you to shipping.
Do you offer free local delivery? Orders over $25 qualify for free local delivery. Under $25, a small local delivery fee applies.
❓ Other Questions
Are you a certified commercial kitchen? We operate as a Cottage Food Operation under California's Cottage Food Law, which allows small-batch food production in a home kitchen for direct-to-consumer sales. Our products meet all California Department of Public Health requirements for cottage food operations.
I have an allergy — can you help? Please review the ingredient list on each product page carefully. If you have a specific allergy concern, reach out before ordering and we'll give you the most accurate information we have about that product and our production environment.
How do I follow your market schedule? The best way is Instagram — we post our weekly schedule every week at @FarmerKHomestead. You can also check our Upcoming Events page or our Local page for regular market locations.
Something went wrong with my order — who do I contact? We stand behind every product we make. If something arrived damaged, isn't what you expected, or there's any issue at all — reach out through our Contact page and we'll make it right.
Still Have Questions?
We're a small family operation and we love hearing from customers. Reach out anytime — we typically respond within 1–2 business days.
CONTACT US