Ben Marshall, an entrepreneurial 16 year old, Grade 11 student at Campbellford and District High School opened Bag’Em Freeze Dried Foods on May 19th, 2023 and is already looking to expand.
Bag’Em Freeze Dried Foods currently processes freeze dried fruit, candy and ice cream and sells the snacks in local businesses and at the Codrington Farmers’ Market.
Ben told us how the process works.
“We process using a freeze drier that drops foods down to -40 degrees C/F, at that temperature it’s the same,” said Marshall. “This process pulls out all the moisture and leaves the sweet true taste of the product.”
Marshall told us why freeze-dried is superior to dehydrated.
Freeze drying is different that dehydration.
“For example, my Banana chips are both sweet and crunchy,” added Ben. “When other banana chips are dehydrated, they are heated up and the moisture is boiled out of them, they lose most of their nutrients and flavour with this hot and dry process. When they are freeze dried, they remain their flavor.”
A friend of the family got Ben interested in this food preparation method and guided him as he purchased his first freeze drier.
Ben told us the why you should consider Bag’Em Freeze Dried Foods.
“Currently my snacks are Robin’s Nest in Warkworth and the canteen by the Skate Board Park in Campbellford,” said Ben.
You will also find Ben every Sunday at the Codrington Farmers’ Market and he will be setting up a booth at the Brighton Applefest. He will do deliveries for orders over $10 in the Trent Hills area.
“I am currently working on a website and I have a meeting set up to try to place items at Sharpe’s too,” added Ben.
Ben’s secret to a good business is to just start.
“Just do it, there are lots of risks and it’s important to understand these risks, but if you have a good idea, just start,” added Marshall.
For more information about Bag’em Freeze Dried Foods visit Bag’Em Freeze Dried Foods or call him at (705)957-9369.
Written by Alicia Vandine
