On Monday night, CitySeed’s James Street headquarters in New Haven hosted a celebratory showcase by the Food Business Incubator program. The program, a joint effort by CitySeed and reSET, supports the growth of early-stage food enterprises in Connecticut.

Family Traditions and Cultural Heritage

Florina Gosturani’s home-based Albanian bakery, Ina Sweet Bakery and Coffee, was inspired by her grandmother, Hatixhe. Gosturani’s grandmother taught her to cook and pay attention to the quality of every ingredient. The bakery specializes in traditional Albanian desserts, such as crunchy baklava and sweet Trileçe cakes.

Margo Jones, another entrepreneur, was inspired by her grandmother, Lillie Stephens, who introduced her to tea. Jones’ business, Assiah Tea and Wellness, offers original herbal blends and individual herbs and teas. Her grandmother taught her that tea is not just a drink, but a way to share family memories and health remedies.

Supporting Local Entrepreneurs

The Food Business Incubator program provides 12 weekly sessions of business training, focusing on skills such as pricing, food safety licensing, and scaling up operations. The program aims to help local entrepreneurs connect their products to customers and grow their businesses.

Other participants in the program included early-stage businesses, home-based businesses, and a food truck, Pika, which specializes in a mix of Dominican, Spanish, and American cuisines.

The event showcased the diversity and creativity of local food entrepreneurs, highlighting the importance of preserving cultural heritage and creating jobs in the community.

Original reporting: New Haven Independent — read the source article.