Javion Blake is a 32-year-old mechanical engineer from the Woodlands district, Hanover, Jamaica. While he watched a documentary series about how the American potato chip became a culinary staple, he was fascinated by the process. Blake is now eager to make the same for the Jus Chill International Breadfruit Chips, a brand that he launched last March. Jus Chill is a company based in Denver, Colorado, where Blake now lives. Javion Blake focuses on making his breadfruit chips a household name. Initially, he sold his product through Amazon. However, now the chips are available in retail stores throughout Colorado, New York, Oregon, Washington State, Nevada, California, Illinois, Georgia, as well as Minnesota.

The Hurdles

Blake’s first strategy was to launch the breadfruit chips by visiting retail outlets and introducing the potential customers to taste tests. However, when the pandemic hit, it became almost impossible to host other events. Still, the company was flexible enough and adjusted. They relied on online, e-commerce, and this allowed them to get market recognition. Other challenges that the company faced were travel disruptions that prevented the interaction with Jamaican suppliers, and the efficiency of logistics operations was affected too. Still, Blake persevered and funded the venture with his salary and the help of friends because he has confidence in his product.

Who Loves Breadfruit Chips?

Blake relies on a steady source of breadfruit and has already shipped as many as 500 bags of the product monthly. The greatest demand is in Colorado. Blake considers that attracting a niche clientelé is essential. The consumers of his product range from those who grew up in places where the breadfruit is a popular food – these are countries like the Caribbean, Hawaii, Pacific Islands, and Africa, to local health food enthusiasts who first tried breadfruit when it was introduced to them through the product of Jus Chill. His clients are also college students looking for ethnic flavors and those with grain or gluten intolerance. The breadfruit is a great alternative to traditional, artificially-sweetened snacks, for diabetics because of its low glycemic index.

Gastronomy is one of the vital parts of any culture. And eating like a local always gives you a better perspective of any culture, much more closely than visiting a touristy spot. The country of Latvia is also rich in gastronomy. Latvian cuisine is an essential part of their cultural tradition. Some local dishes there might seem a bit odd by sight, but there is no better way to delve into a distinguished memorable culinary journey than to try the local Latvian foods by yourself. Here are a few Latvian delicacies to experience the tradition.

Rye Breads

Rye Breads are a Latvian staple. Rye Breads come in different variations in the country, like sweet sourdough, rich dark, etc. Rye bread is a popular accompaniment in any Latvian meal, which can go with almost any dish. With a spread of butter, some cheese, and pieces of ham, it is also a commonly consumed go-to breakfast for the locals.

Speck

Speck is a centuries-old food tradition of Latvia. It is a type of extremely fatty smoked bacon made from pork belly. Centuries ago, it was consumed by the local villagers, to gain a lot of extra energy to be able to work hard in the fields every day. ‘pelēkie zirņi ar speķi’ is one of the most traditional dishes made with speck. This simple but tasty dish is made from fried onions, mixed with speck and different types of peas.

Smoked Fish

Another common smoked protein of Latvia is smoked fish. Having direct access to the Baltic Sea, fish has taken up a major part of Latvian cuisine for ages. Eel, pike, and cod are the most traditional dishes, among many others. Fishes are smoked in long batches in Latvian households to make them tastier and more durable. ‘Liepajas menciņš’ is a never-to-miss dish if you are looking to try an authentic Latvian dish. This signature dish of Liepaja region is made from smoked cod, onions, and potatoes.