Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Katey Evans, founder of The Frozen Farmer, located in Bridgeville, DA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

Proudly grown on our third generation family farm, The Frozen Farmer has taken the farm-to-table trend to a new location - your grocer’s freezer. A proudly woman-owned company led by Katey Evans, The Frozen Farmer was a natural extension of the family’s mission to provide field-grown fruits and veggies, harvested at the peak of perfection, to feed your family and theirs. The Frozen Farmer is an awesome way to preserve our family’s farm legacy. Every one of our decadent recipes are delightfully low calorie and never go out of season. Our delicious sorbets and Froberts™ are made from fruits that may not look perfect but are loaded with farm-fresh flavor. And using misfit fruits supports our goal of helping make a more sustainable food system.

Tell us about yourself

At The Frozen Farmer, our roots run deep. At The Frozen Farmer, we are proud to be a certified Women-Owned Small Business with a certification from the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council. Our business began with inspiration from our family farm where we continue to plant the seeds for connecting us all in a fight against food waste.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

Ever since The Frozen Farmer first opened, our customers have suggested we pitch the business on ABC’s Shark Tank. In March 2020 our dream became a reality when our sustainable, farm-crafted story earned us a partnership deal with Lori Greiner. While landing a deal on Shark Tank was a great accomplishment for us, that was where the work just really began. Now The Frozen Farmer is in more than 8,000 retail locations nationwide and the biggest accomplishment as a business owner is showing our three daughters that women can do anything - even grow a business from a farmhouse kitchen table to a nationally distributed top 10 selling ice cream brand.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

One of the most difficult things that come with being a business owner for me is maintaining a healthy work-life balance. I work way too many 12 to 14 hour days. Our corporate Frozen Farmer office is downstairs in our home so there really is no separation of work and life. And when you're an entrepreneur and as passionate about your business as I am, you look for opportunity or creative inspiration in everything you do - both personal and professional. But I've learned to try and set more healthy boundaries around protecting my personal time and making an effort to truly turn to work off at times and allow my mind to enjoy life outside of this brand and business.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

1. Set and maintain realistic expectations in the workplace. Setting achievable goals helps a team stay on task and focused.

2. Show appreciation. That can be something as simple as just verbally recognizing that someone is trying to contribute to the betterment of your business. Or treat them to lunch as a way to show thanks. It doesn’t have to be in a big way, but we all like to know that our hard work is recognized so sometimes a simple “thank you,” goes a long way.

3. If it was easy, everyone would do it. Celebrate the wins and the good times but know that starting, running, and growing a business can be very difficult, even if it's doing something you really love. So when struggles arise, hang in there and remember why you started.

Anything else you'd like to share?

Crafted from upcycled fruit ingredients to connect us all in the fight against food waste, The Frozen Farmer has created the only no-sugar-added sorbet in national retail. With less than 70 calories in the entire pint, The Frozen Farmer sorbet is dairy-free, gluten-free, and fat-free. It's plant-based and vegan friendly too! The Frozen Farmer is the inventor of Frobert! What is Frobert? It's a "frozen dairy dessert," that is an entirely unique blend of ice cream and sorbet carefully crafted to lessen the fat and calorie content of traditional ice cream without sacrificing flavor or creaminess.

Where can people find you and your business?

https://www.instagram.com/thefrozenfarmer/

https://www.facebook.com/TheFrozenFarmer/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solopreneur that you'd like to share, then email community@subkit.com; we'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

Feel inspired to start, run or grow your own subscription business? Check out subkit.com and learn how you can turn "one day" into day one.