Acorn Vendor of the Week: Cheeky Spices

Rita Shelley of Cheeky Spices wants everyone to be able to enjoy tasty foods!

The Manchester Mirror is running a series of articles to introduce the many vendors at Acorn Farmers’ Market & Café to the community. Each week a different vendor will be featured, to highlight the wide variety of offerings at our local Market, both now and in the future. Watch for this regular feature to learn more about the people who make up the backdrop to this unique Manchester business!

Rita Shelley, of Cheeky Spices in Ann Arbor, wants people to know that 90% of people over 30 experience digestive issues, IBS, and food allergies.

“Yet, there is an unspoken rule that all healthy foods must taste like cardboard, or slightly better flavored cardboard,” she says.

Cheeky Spices dares to defy that notion. Made in Michigan with quality, non-GMO ingredients, Cheeky Spices are “fun for your mouth and easy on your stomach.” They are produced in an allergen-free facility without nuts, dairy, gluten, or alliums to protect the digestive tract. “Healthy eaters, picky eaters, and avid foodies will love the gourmet quality and taste of our delicious spice blends,” Rita adds.

In business for a little over a year, Rita made the connection with Acorn Farmers’ Market & Café through “Taste the Local Difference,” where Acorn was recommended as a great partner! Her spices are a relatively new addition to the store and will be welcomed by many. Inspired by the best dinner recipes from across the world, these spice blends are chock-full of mouth-watering flavors that don’t contain allergens.

What does Rita enjoy most about being an Acorn vendor? “I love the personable approach, the wonderful selection of local makers’ brands, and the community feel of this enterprise,” she says.”

Once Acorn is in its new location, she is looking forward to demonstrations! “I’d love to cook for everyone in Manchester and have them sample (and fall in love with) my blends. I also hope to make more connections with local vendors who may become my partners as I grow into the snacks market,” she adds.

Learn more at www.cheekyspices.com, or follow her on Facebook and Instagram

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.