Huck’s Hollow Farm latest artisan food maker to launch Kickstarter campaign

Huck’s Hollow Farm Homemade Goods will celebrate the launch of a Kickstarter campaign on Friday at Tess’ Kitchen Store in Grass Valley from 5:30-8 p.m. It is the latest example of a local food venture turning to crowdfunding to grow its business. Other examples include Wheyward Girl Creamery and Three Forks Bakery & Brewing Co. in Nevada City and Tahoe Food Hub in Truckee.

Huck’s, which makes artisan crackers, spice blends and baking mixes and sells pastured eggs, started about 1 1/2 years ago. Owner Theresa Huck received $10,000 from a Nevada City Community Development Block Grant program, and she is seeking $20,000-$30,000 from a Kickstarter campaign, she said.

Huck has been baking in her home kitchen and now plans to use Tess’ restaurant-quality commercial kitchen to help expand her business, she said.

Huck’s products are sold at New Moon Natural Foods in Truckee, BriarPatch Co-op in Grass Valley, Newcastle Produce in Newcastle and New Earth Market in Yuba City, among other places. Now she plans to go national.

She also has an online store.

Huck’s goal is non-GMO, gluten-free, organic food with environmental friendly packaging.

Theresa and her husband, Jim, have lived in Nevada County for 16 years. “We adopted our son, Josh, in 2001, and his allergies — to peanuts, tree nuts, sesame, soy and pistachios — were difficult to adjust to,” said Huck. “Like many allergy sufferers, we had to make much of his food homemade.

“This birthed an organic food company, called Huck’s Hollow Farm, which Josh named.”

Crowdfunding refers to funding a venture by raising money from a large number of people, typically via the internet. The global crowdfunding industry now tops more than $5 billion, according to estimates.

By 2025, the crowdfunding market could reach more than $90 billion, nearly double the size of the global venture capital industry, according to a study commissioned by the World Bank.

“Crowdfunding allows locals to invest in the businesses and economy they would like to see for their community,” said former Nevada City Mayor and longtime community leader Reinette Senum, who launched her own successful Kickstarter campaign to create a documentary about her solo walk across Alaska. “Mom and pop businesses like these are the backbone of our economy.”

(Photos: Huck’s Hollow Farm)