Be Persistent, Don't Give Up, Be the Best with Mary Mooney of Mooney Farms
Mary Mooney of Mooney Farms is the 3rd generation of a family and woman-owned farm. She is a powerhouse entrepreneur and pioneer who took the farm from near bankruptcy during the 1980s farming crisis to a $6million company in five years. Owner of the popular Bella Sun Luci Sun Dried Tomato Brand — Mary has learned many lessons in business and life that she shares in this conversation with Audra. Mooney talks about raising $30k in 30 days to save the farm, how she created many unique and delicious food products, what she's learned from being a woman-owned business, and how it's that much more difficult to raise money as a female entrepreneur and farmer.
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SHOW NOTES AND LINKS
Mary Mooney and her mother at their kiwi ranch that now produces the olive oil for their sun-dried tomatoes.
Mary Mooney is the Owner and President of Bella Sun Luci, overseeing all operations, innovation developments, and buyer relationships at Mooney Farms. With Mary’s leadership over the past 35 years and Bella Sun Luci’s recognition as the pioneer of the California sun-dried tomato, Mooney Farms has grown to be a third-generation, family- and women-owned company, holding a certification from the prestigious Women’s Business Enterprise National Council. As a busy mom with a full-time job, Mary has always cherished being able to create better-for-you foods that are not only made with the cleanest, high-quality ingredients but also taste amazing. Built on a foundation of family values, quality, and integrity, Mary’s mom, Gretchen, started Mooney Farms, located in Chico, California, back in 1986. After transitioning the farm from a kiwi farming operation to its hero ingredient, tomatoes, Mary and her family moved to a larger facility in 1994 to meet the growing demand for its products as a leader in Mediterranean-inspired foods.
Mary and her family have spearheaded the creation of a variety of exceptional tomato- and olive oil-based products, including sun-dried tomato sauces, spreads, meat marinades, and its newest better-for-you, vegan snack, Plant-Based Tomato Jerky. Bella Sun Luci’s Sun-Dried Tomatoes and other products have quickly turned the company into an internationally recognized brand, bringing consumers across the globe their favorite Mediterranean-inspired foods to enjoy for all kinds of occasions and meals. Now, Mary’s main focus and passion at Mooney Farms is product development and recipe creation. She also continues to enjoy the collaboration with Northern California Producers and working with the abundance of Mediterranean ingredients provided by California’s beautiful agricultural landscape, such as olive oil and organic grains.
Mary remains hands-on at the farm and on the Bella Sun Luci production floor.
PRODUCTION NOTES
Executive Producer, Host and Writer: Audra Mulkern
Producer: Joe Mulkern
FFP Theme Song: Written and Performed by Joe Mulkern
Episode Song: Arrival
Written and Performed By City Rat