How did the company start?
It was the summer of 2005, Marisa Daly, a stay-at-home mom for the past 10 years, decided it was time to venture (part-time) back into the workforce as her three daughters were all nearing middle school age. Daly, who enjoyed to cook, applied at the soon-to-be-opening Applebee’s in Epping, NH. She was hired as a part-time prep cook. Her job description would entail chopping onions, peppers, and tomatoes (a task she'd become awfully familiar with). She accepted the job. However, two days before her orientation was to begin, her husband (Paul) surprised her with a pallet of mason jars. He said, “You’re in business.” She never did make it to that Applebee’s orientation.

How has the company grown?
After working on recipes and batches throughout the summer of 2005, Marisa signed up as a vendor at her hometown annual fair (Lee Country Fair). The goal was to test her recipes with the finicky public. She showed up with a plastic folding table, several cases of salsas and flavored oils, and some crackers and bread for dipping. In a little less than 2 hours, she sold out her entire inventory. She took orders for the next four hours. Crooked Birch was launched!

Following the Lee event, Marisa quickly signed up for several more local fall fairs, including the Dover Apple Fair, Milford Pumpkin Festival and the Newmarket Heritage Festival. She was warmly received at all events, and her salsas and oils were a huge hit. Following the successful fall fairs, Marisa and Paul spent the winter of 2005-2006 writing business and marketing plans, designing a website, securing a food license, renting a commercial kitchen, and soliciting potential wholesale accounts.

Today, less than two years old, Crooked Birch wholesales to over 40 retail accounts across New England. In 2008, they plan on finishing the construction of their own commercial kitchen, publishing a cookbook, and quadrupling their wholesale accounts. For 2009,10 and beyond they are planning big: A Crooked Birch lifestyle publication centered around (of course) good food and friends, and much, much more.

Why specialty foods?
Well, it didn’t start out as a specialty food company. Marisa is a big fan of salsas. And Paul and the three girls love dipping oils. So Crooked Birch was essentially a salsa and dipping oil company from the start. They didn’t even know about the vast specialty food market. Being labeled a specialty food company kind of happened as their product line grew. 

What does ‘Handmade tastes better.’ mean?
Marisa (Zappacosta) always gives credit to her mom for instilling the idea of cooking ‘fresh.’ Born and raised in Italy, Marisa’s mom only knew knew 'fresh.' Marisa never had so much as a peanut butter and jelly sandwich until the age of 18. Growing up, it was always Saturday trips to Haymarket in Boston looking for the freshest fish and vegetables, then stops at the butcher shops in the North End to pick out fresh-cut veal and beef. They even made their own pasta, and baked their own bread for Sunday dinners. This is now the philosophy of Crooked Birch. They never add preservatives to their recipes. They use only the freshest possible ingredients. And they make it all handmade. There is something to be said for a real person (not an assembly line of stainless steel machines) prepping, mixing and packing a small batch of tomato or pineapple salsa. It’s called better taste! Crooked Birch plans growing, but it is committed to three important principles: Small batches, handmade, and great taste.

Handmade really does taste better.

What Crooked Birch believes in.
We believe in strong families and lasting friendships. We believe in the idea of sharing stories and creating memories over great food and drink... But mostly we're about good food that tastes (wicked) better.