Cairo home sourdough baker finds business opportunity at Grand Island Farmer’s Market (2024)

CAIRO — For Marissa Robinson, the owner of Sal & Sol Market in Cairo, it was her first time selling her homemade bread and pastries at a public market.

It was the second weekend (June 8) for the Grand Island Area Farmer’s Market at the Bosselman Enterprises parking lot on South Locust Street.

Robinson’s booth was one of more than 20 vendors at the market. There was a good crowd of hundreds of people there once the market opened at 9 a.m.

Within an hour, to Robinson’s great joy, she had sold more than 95% of her inventory.

Robinson specializes in homemade organic sourdough breads and pastries. She was also selling her organic freeze-dried fruits.

All the items were made fresh and by scratch at her Cairo home she shares with her husband, Brandon, and their two young children.

Robinson and her husband are both veterans.

“We are a veteran-owned company,” she said.

Robinson was an Army Critical Care Flight Paramedic and part of the Army for 12 years.

“I flew around on the helicopters in the medical unit here in Grand Island,” she said. “It’s what brought me to Grand Island and how I met my husband, my biggest supporter. We are very proud of that chapter in our lives.”

Robinson said her specialty is all things sourdough, made with organic, high-quality ingredients.

“I want to put better quality products out into the community,” she said.

Sourdough is high in fiber and prebiotics, which feed good gut bacteria. It also contains lactic acid, which can help healthy gut bacteria grow, and can boost your immune system.

“A lot of my customers start with the classic loaf and then they move on to other things that I have,” Robinson said. “Then eventually they’re just all sourdough and they can feel a difference in themselves.”

Sourdough bread has been around for thousands of years.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, sourdough bread was a staple food for pioneers and settlers because the starter was easy to transport.

In the 1980s there was a resurgence in the ancient breadmaking process, which dates back to more than 5,000 years ago, because of sourdough’s unique flavor and health benefits.

Robinson has been baking for about six years, initially starting as a hobby to heal herself naturally from postpartum depression by focusing on learning to make fermented foods, like sourdough.

Through trial and error, she honed her baking skills and gradually built a customer base through word of mouth and online presence on Facebook.

The farmer’s market experience was a significant milestone for Robinson, marking her first venture into selling at a market.

With the support of her family, including her husband and mom helping with packaging, set-up and other chores, she was able to showcase her products to the community.

Despite being a full-time mom and homeschooling her children, Robinson made the decision, earlier this year, to leave her sales career and focus on growing her baking business.

Looking ahead, she plans to obtain her official state cottage license to expand her business with porch pickups at her home, and potentially explore in-home sales opportunities.

With continued success at the market and the support of her family, Robinson’s dream of being a home entrepreneur looks bright, especially after the success of her first sales venture at the farmers market.

“My menu is changing every week to keep it fun,” she said. “But the classic sourdough loaf will always be a part of it.”

One of the great things about the Grand Island farmers market is there are other vendors, like Robinson, selling crafts and goods to the public, who have an opportunity to become entrepreneurs and successful independent business people.

Robinson said she plans to pursues her passion for baking and creating wholesome, organic products and grow that passion into a successful home business.

Robinson’s homemade baked goods can be found every Saturday at the Grand Island Farmer’s Market. More information about her business can be found on Facebook @Sal&SolMarket.