Pop, Pop.... Pop

My friends, Kaye and Steve McKaskle, own and work a farm that has been in Kaye’s family for 5 generations. They are very creative, intelligent, and forward thinking individuals. They are hard workers and as you would expect, they have raised their children and grandchildren to be industrious also. A number of years ago, Kaye and Steve saw opportunities in organic farming and, although the process of getting started in an organic farming endeavor is slow and arduous, they’ve proved that it can be highly successful.
Several months ago, Kaye told me that she and Steve had decided to market a line of organic food. Their first product would be popcorn. The farm is located in a tiny southeast Missouri community named Braggadoccio, so Braggadoccio Pops was born. She brought me a bag to try and I can tell you that it is some good stuff. It is a lot more healthy too. It was nostalgic to pop the popcorn the old fashioned way - in other words, not in the microwave, but rather on the stovetop. I guess there wasn’t a kernel that didn’t pop.
Now they’ve branched out into various rice varieties, and as you can see by the displays pictured below, it sure seems to be popular. I haven’t tried the rice yet, but I will soon.In Dyersburg, TN, you can purchase the McKaskle's line of organic foods at Sunflower Health Food located in Green Village Shopping Center. You can e-mail the shop’s owner, Donna Hilliard, at sunflowerhealthfood@gmail.com for more information. There are a number of outlets in Memphis and Southeast Missouri that now carry these products, and I expect the McKaskle family to have their foods on the shelves of stores far and wide before long.


Donna was out of the store when I visited today. This is Cindy, who recently went to work in the shop. Cindy is a person of many talents. Besides being a Master Gardener, she also makes bobbin lace, which is a rare skill in this day and time. She says she loves her new job at the Health Food store.




In addition to being a great woman farmer and fabulous cook, Kaye used to work part-time in my store. She is a skilled stitcher, a wonderful salesperson, and has a good eye for beautiful things. Being a “jane of many trades”, she also works part-time at That Bookstore in Blytheville and is my source for all things good to read. Compliments to my good friend, Kaye, and her very nice husband, Steve. I think they have a winning idea with that beautifully packaged, locally grown, organic food.

And I bet you thought this blog would be about fireworks!