Trendsetter to Know: Suzette Smith of Garden Goddess Ferments

Name: Suzette Smith

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Age: 50ish

Title: Queen of Fermented Foods, Founder of Garden Goddess Ferments

Married/Single: single-ish

Kids: two natural-born children and one adopted Danish exchange student.

City you live in: Phoenix for the last 20 years.

A typical day in my life includes…

pilates 4 days a week and a 15-mile bike ride once a week. I’m super focused on taking care of my body as I age. Learning to grow a manufacturing business, there’s always a ‘Plan B’ in place and we use it almost daily. At the end of the day, I’m filled with gratitude for the opportunity of another phenomenal day.

I was born…

to be an advocate for improvement. Putting myself first, the community second and the world third. We can’t help anyone until we help ourselves and have an obligation to our community and our world to be our best selves. Happy, helpful and hungry for more.  

My favorite thing about Arizona…

the weather nine months out of the year, the diversity of cultures, the “big” small-town feel, and the farmers market scene.  I’ve lived in many cities and cannot think of any other place I would rather be. I’ve become a true desert being and love the beauty the desert has to offer.

I’m listening to…

Pandora/Old Country/Randy Travis, my grandmother’s favorite. That’s my cue she’s close. I keep different genres for different parts of my day or mood and vary from classic country to modern jazz to folk bluegrass.   

My family…

keeps me crazy in a great way! Two boys in college and my parents moved over from Georgia two years ago. It’s great to have us all in one state after living on opposite ends of the U.S. and sometimes the world. We are a family of artists on all levels.  My Mom and I have been foodies forever and my Dad took up pottery at the age of 80. He’s created some beautiful hand-thrown bowls I can’t wait to feature in my retail space.  

If I could have dinner with anyone, it would be…

Muddy, my great-great-grandmother from the Creek Indian Nation. I’m fascinated with different cultures and the Native American culture is not one I’m familiar with in the ways of their food and healing modalities.  

One thing I cannot live without…

butter.

When I was younger, I wanted to be…

a healer. I loved working with the elderly, disabled and animals.  At 14, I volunteered at a nursing home and the special needs school.  Living on a farm, we always had a variety of animals to care for and I found myself catering to their health.  

I’m inspired by…

challenges. I love turning “I CAN’T” into “I DID IT!” I have a pattern of taking a product no one has heard of and bringing it to the market. Garden Goddess Ferments is my third business and the third time I’ve started something somewhat new to the market; 333 is my favorite number so I know we are on track.

The one person who motivates me is…

my mom, she always inspires me to do better. 

If I could change anything in the world, it would be…

pasteurization. As great of discovery as it was, we went a little overboard on the kill ALL the bacteria in our foods and could use a better balance of how we feed our humans.  I believe if we got back to more natural whole diets, we could change our health for the better.  Finding a balance of ancient and modern ways is key.

The perfect day…

is spent in the kitchen. Whether at home or our Garden Goddess space, I love both places.    

My first job was…

as a cashier at the local Tastee Freeze at the age of 13.  

My favorite escape…

is to whisk away to a fun destination and learn. Health symposiums, fermentation festivals, and self-care retreats are my fav. The earthier, the better.

My life…

has only just begun. Everything in my life has brought me here, where I am today and that makes my heart smile.  I feel so much better equipped to go into adulthood now. 

I’m currently working on…

the art of focus. 

Always…

be the change you wish to see.

Never…

forget you have a choice.

Favorite quote…

“Well-behaved women rarely make history.” – Mae West

Biggest dream…

to be the first fermented beet kvass on a national shelf! GO PICK UP THE BEET!

My Pet Peeve(s)…

procrastination and canola oil.

More about Suzette…

Suzette Smith is the founder of Garden Goddess Ferments, Phoenix’s only fermented food company. Her unique line includes fermented vegetables known as kraut and a fermented beet juice called Beet Kvass. Garden Goddess products can be found online at GardenGoddessFerments.com, local farmers markets, Amazon.com, AJ’s Fine Foods and Whole Foods in Tempe.

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