Delaware says, ‘Hi Barbie!’ Bridgeville’s Frozen Farmer Teams with Mattel on Doll-Themed Treats

Written by Live Love Delaware on March 11, 2024. Posted in Working in Delaware.

Bridgeville business creates Barbie popsicle with Mattel Inc.

Katey Evans, co-founder of Bridgeville’s The Frozen Farmer, with Barbie Freezer Squeezers, a frozen treat made from produce that would have otherwise been discarded. Photo provided by The Frozen Farmer.

March 11, 2004

By Krys’tal Griffin
Delaware News Journal

If you’re still not over the Barbie craze sparked by the release of the hit “Barbie” movie last summer, this new partnership between a Delaware business and Mattel Inc. is sure to keep Barbie a household name.

The Frozen Farmer, launched from the third-generation Evans Farm in Bridgeville in 2015, is a company striving to eliminate food waste by using the farm produce deemed “too ugly” for retail sale to create ice cream and sorbet.

The company was featured on ABC’s “Shark Tank” in 2020, winning an investment deal with Lori Greiner and eventually expanding the sale of its products to more than 5,000 stores nationwide.

Now, The Frozen Farmer is expanding its offerings to include Barbie Freezer Squeezers in partnership with Mattel Inc., the manufacturer of Barbie.

What are Barbie Freezer Squeezers?

Co-founder of The Frozen Farmer and native Delawarean Katey Evans created the popsicle-like treat as an homage to her personal connection to Barbie and all that the famous doll stands for.

“As a mom to four daughters, Barbie has a special place in our home as more than just a timeless toy that brings generations together,” Evans said. “From a young age, Barbie empowered me to chase my dreams as a female founder. It’s a full circle moment to be able to partner with Mattel to bring Barbie Freezer Squeezers to market with the Frozen Farmer, a brand that grew from the seeds of self-belief that Barbie planted early on.”

The frozen treats are available in a pink strawberry lemonade sorbet flavor and come in 3-ounce squeeze tubes to be easily enjoyed on the go.

Described by the company as a mix between tart and sweet, the new offering continues the Frozen Farmer’s mission to reduce food waste while providing classic flavors everyone can enjoy, and with a nod of approval from Barbie herself, who could pass up a taste?

“What started as a way to use produce that looks unique has become our mission — and the results are delicious,” Evans said. “Barbie is a brand that celebrates the differences of all children that make them uniquely themselves—and as a mom, I love that as much as my daughters love all things Barbie.”

The Frozen Farmer partnered with Mattel Inc. to create Barbie Freezer Squeezers, a frozen treat made from imperfect produce usually deemed “too ugly” to sell on shelves. Photo provided by The Frozen Farmer.
Learn more about The Frozen Farmer from co-founder Katey Evans in this DPP video.

Where to Find Barbie Freezer Squeezers?

The Frozen Farmer’s Barbie Freezer Squeezers can be found in the following stores around the country:

Kroger
Ralphs
Dillons
Smith’s
King Soopers
Fry’s
QFC
City Market
Jay C
Baker’s
Mariano’s
Fred Meyer
Winn-Dixie
Giant Food

This article was originally posted on Delaware online website at: https://www.delawareonline.com/story/money/business/2024/02/28/frozen-farmer-bridgeville-katey-evans-creates-barbie-popsicle-where-to-buy-delaware-mattel-inc-dolls/72760793007/

Beebe Program Offers Innovative Cardiovascular Care in Southern Delaware

Written by Live Love Delaware on January 18, 2024. Posted in Working in Delaware.

Beebe’s Structural Heart Program Marks Key Milestones, Demonstrating Innovative Cardiovascular Care in Southern Delaware

Beebe’s first Amulet patient Margaret Erner with Marcelle Brady, RN, Jordana Bumgarner, RTR, Annie Villalobos, MSN, Tammy Kelly, RN, Donna Fleitz, RN, and Mouhanad Freih, MD.

LEWES, DEL. – Beebe Healthcare’s Cardiovascular team recently celebrated two milestone procedures that provide the latest, most advanced care for patients in Southern Delaware.

The healthcare system continues to look for innovative technologies, devices, and procedures to provide the best care for Sussex County – most recently launching use of the Amulet device and completing the 200th Watchman device implant in the cath lab. Both are Left Atrial Appendage Closure (LAAC) devices, used to treat patients who have been diagnosed with non-valvular atrial fibrillation.

“Both the Watchman and the Amulet are powerful assets in our arsenal of tools to prevent stroke,” said Annie Villalobos, MSN, APRN, AGCNS-BC, Structural Heart Program Coordinator and Clinical Nurse Specialist. “Decisions about which device is best for each patient are made based on what the imaging shows us, and how the patient’s anatomy is structured. The availability of Amulet gives us new options to ensure complete closure of the left atrial appendage and signifies Beebe’s commitment to having the right systems in place to care for every unique patient.”

Atrial fibrillation is a heart rhythm disorder that increases risk for stroke and requires that many patients rely on anticoagulation medications, long-term. The introduction of the Amulet, and continued successful use of the Watchman, offers patients new, life-changing options. The two devices are similar in that they are both used to close openings between the left atrium and the appendage. What varies is their shape and size. Having both options means Beebe’s structural heart team can more effectively treat patients with left atrial openings that vary in depth and size.

Beebe introduced use of the Watchman device in 2018. The first patient to receive the Amulet device implantation was in December 2023.

Watchman team Annie Villalobos, MSN, Mouhanad Freih, MD, Lori Kline, RN, Bob Henchy, Boston Scientific, Georges Dahr, MD, Paul Peet, MD, Alberto Rosa, MD and Ehtasham Qureshi, MD.

Beebe’s Structural Heart Program is led by Mouhanad Freih, MD, who serves as Medical Director, and Ehtasham Qureshi, MD, Chief of Cardiology, along with Villalobos. Electrophysiologists Michael Sabadish, MD, and Maria Pia Del Corral, MD, have also played an instrumental role in the growth of the program, and Beebe’s ability to introduce the Amulet device. A special thanks also to Georges Dahr, MD, and Jillian Dashiell, MD, as the intraprocedural transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) imaging specialists for LAAC.

Additionally, collaboration with Beebe’s cardiovascular surgeons, operating room team, and catheterization lab team is essential in the delivery of comprehensive, quality-centric, outcomes-based care for every patient.

“We are incredibly proud of our team and appreciate the tremendous amount of time, energy, and passion that has gone into bringing these lifesaving devices to Beebe, and perfecting our practices for the benefit of the patients we serve,” said Tracy Belcher, BSN, RN, NE-BC, CCRP, LSSGB, Director of Cardiovascular Operations and Outpatient Infusion Center at Beebe Healthcare. “The need for state-of-the-art care that is also local and close to home is clear. Two hundred patients have now received the Watchman device, and now, with the introduction of the Amulet device, we can offer even more options for care that is customized to the individual. The very highest quality heart care is absolutely available, right here at Beebe.”

Beebe Healthcare is a not-for-profit community healthcare system with a charitable mission to encourage healthy living, prevent illness, and restore optimal health for the people who live in, work in, and visit the communities we serve. Beebe Healthcare has three campuses: the Margaret H. Rollins Lewes Campus, which houses the medical center; the Rehoboth Health Campus; and the South Coastal Health Campus. Beebe Healthcare offers primary care as well as specialized services in the areas of cardiovascular, oncology, orthopaedics, general surgery, robotic surgery and women’s health. Beebe also offers walk-in care, lab, imaging and physical rehabilitation services at several locations throughout Sussex County, in addition to a home health program and a comprehensive community health program.

For more information about Beebe Healthcare, visit beebehealthcare.org.

Southern Delaware Tourism Launches Culinary Coast Restaurant Website

Written by Live Love Delaware on November 8, 2023. Posted in Working in Delaware.

Southern Delaware Tourism Launches New Restaurant Website

GEORGETOWN – The Southern Delaware Tourism office has launched a new website, Culinary Coast, to showcase restaurants, breweries, and farmers markets in Sussex County.

Culinary Coast provides users with the flexibility to select from a variety of cuisines, including those that feature vegan and vegetarian choices, cooking classes, and food festivals.

Tina Coleman, communication manager at Southern Delaware Tourism, told Delaware Business Times the new website is designed to provide users with a convenient platform to discover new restaurants and events.

“Not only will visitors find all the information and listings they need, but they’ll be treated to a richer virtual experience of the Culinary Coast featuring the stories and people that make Southern Delaware such a vibrant culinary destination,” Coleman said. “As we continue to add content, our goal is to create a virtual feast that makes people hungry to visit.”

The Southern Delaware Tourism office announces that the new website will serve as a destination for users looking to explore the culinary scene and to boost visitation and aid in travel planning.

It also offers a blog that welcomes guest posts from Culinary Coast chefs, restaurateurs, and producers; a news section; local chef bios; and agritourism and aquaculture components.

This article was originally posted on the Delaware Delaware Business Times website at: https://delawarebusinesstimes.com/news/southern-delaware-tourism-website/.

Fisher’s Popcorn Growth Will Put Delaware Snack in More Grocery Stores Across United States

Written by Live Love Delaware on June 2, 2023. Posted in Working in Delaware.

Major Expansion of Manufacturing and Wholesale Operations Planned in Frankford, Sussex County

WILMINGTON, Del. – Fisher’s Popcorn, which has produced hand-crafted gourmet popcorn in Delaware for 40 years, has chosen Frankford, Delaware, as the location for a new $4.85 million facility that will more than quadruple space for its manufacturing and wholesale operations.

The company’s current production facility in Fenwick Island, Delaware, is approximately 2,000 square feet, and the new 17-acre site on Delaware Route 20 just off the U.S. Route 113 corridor is almost 10,000 square feet. The additional space will allow Fisher’s Popcorn of Delaware to utilize new equipment – including two kettles and a large packaging machine – that will increase production capacity many times over. For example, bag-packing capabilities will rise from eight bags per minute to 30 to 35 bags per minute.

Fisher’s Popcorn of Delaware currently has 22 full-time employees staffing its manufacturing, retail, wholesale and e-commerce operations, all of which are in Sussex County. The company plans to create 20 additional wholesale jobs at the new site over the next three years.

Sussex County Economic Development Director William Pfaff; Delaware Prosperity Partnership Senior Manager, Business Development, Megan Kopistecki; Fisher’s Popcorn of Delaware Vice President Russell Hall; and DPP Business Development Manager Bryan Mack collaborated on the Fisher’s Popcorn project.

“Fisher’s Popcorn has been a part of the Delaware beach experience and the Sussex County business community for 40 years, and we’re glad the company has chosen to expand here for its next phase of growth,” said Governor John Carney. “Delaware is a great place for manufacturing. This new facility will enable Fisher’s Popcorn to better serve its existing customers and grow its production and wholesale operations.”

Fisher’s Popcorn was founded in Ocean City, Maryland, in 1937, and a branch of the founder’s family began operating Fisher’s Popcorn of Delaware independent from the original company in 1983. Still family-owned and -operated, Fisher’s Popcorn of Delaware has retail shops in the resort towns of Fenwick Island, Rehoboth Beach and Bethany Beach. The company also sells its products online and in more than 2,000 grocery stores across the United States, including many Giant, Weis, Food Lion and Fresh Market locations.

Fisher’s Popcorn officials presented to Delaware’s Council on Development Finance an application for a Jobs Performance Grant of $60,000 and a Capital Expenditure Grant of $145,500 from the Delaware Strategic Fund to support the company’s investment in construction, fit-out costs and new equipment.

Distribution of grants from the Delaware Strategic Fund are dependent on the company meeting commitments as outlined to the CDF, which reviewed and approved Fisher’s Popcorn of Delaware’s request for up to $205,500 in total grant funding.

“We’re very grateful for the opportunity to expand our operations while still being part of our local community here in Delaware,” said Vice President Russell Hall, who runs the company’s wholesale and e-commerce divisions. “This expansion will enable us to bring the classic flavors of the Delaware beach resorts to more people around the country while adding quality jobs in Sussex County. The grant assistance from the state is a key component to making this happen.”

Delaware Prosperity Partnership began helping Fisher’s Popcorn explore how it could continue to grow in Delaware’s retail in 2022. Providing additional assistance throughout the site search and other location processes was Bill Pfaff, director of economic development for Sussex County.

“We are so excited that Fisher’s Popcorn’s new manufacturing facility is calling Sussex County its home,” Pfaff said.

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About Delaware Prosperity Partnership

Delaware Prosperity Partnership (choosedelaware.com) leads Delaware’s efforts to attract, grow and retain businesses; build a stronger entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystem; and support employers in place-marketing Delaware to potential employees. Collaborating with economic development partners throughout the state, the DPP team works with site selectors, executives and developers focused on where to locate or grow a business and helps with reviewing potential sites, cost-of-living analyses and funding opportunities, including available tax credits and incentives. DPP advances a culture of innovation in Delaware, working with innovators and startups to connect them with resources and showcase their successes. DPP and its partners support and advance the missions of companies of all sizes and sectors.

About Fisher’s Popcorn of Delaware

Fisher’s Popcorn of Delaware (fishers-popcorn.com) got its start in 1937, when Everett Fisher began making and selling copper kettle caramel popcorn on the Ocean City Boardwalk in Maryland. More than 40 years later, Everett’s granddaughter, Marty Fisher Hall, and her husband, Bill, opened the first Fisher’s Popcorn store in Delaware. Today – independent of the Maryland operations since 1983 – the Halls and their children run production and e-commerce operations and Fenwick Island, Rehoboth Beach and Bethany Beach retail locations along with a wholesale division launched in 2012. Each batch of Fisher’s Popcorn is still made now as it was in 1937, but a wide variety of flavors have been added, including Caramel with Peanuts, Butter-Flavored, White Cheddar, Old Bay®-Seasoned Caramel, Kettle Corn, Caramel Dusted with White Cheddar and the seasonal flavor Caramel Pumpkin Spice.

This article was originally posted on the Delaware Prosperity Partnership website at: https://www.choosedelaware.com/press-releases/fishers-popcorn-to-expand-in-delaware/

Beebe Healthcare to Host Multiple Recruitment Events in May

Written by Live Love Delaware on May 12, 2023. Posted in Working in Delaware.

LEWES – Throughout the rest of May, Beebe Healthcare is hosting a variety of recruitment events for clinical and non-clinical staff.

Beebe is one of the largest employers throughout beautiful Sussex County and has exciting career opportunities available for qualified professionals. The healthcare system is experiencing tremendous growth, which allows it to offer more services to more people in more locations.

Beebe offers a healthy, supportive culture where team members can truly flourish, with an excellent patient-focused environment, and leading-edge technology. Working at Beebe provides a feeling of community and a place to call home away from home.

Walk-ins are welcome unless otherwise noted. RSVP online by visiting this webpage and selecting the date: https://tinyurl.com/2p95u932. Please call 302-645-3336 or email employment@beebehealthcare.org with questions.

For complete job descriptions and requirements for any of the listed positions, go to https://www.beebehealthcare.org/careers.

Beebe Medical Group Hiring Event

9 a.m. to Noon, Saturday, May 20

Beebe Medical Group will be offering on-site interviews for clinical and clerical openings on Saturday, May 20, from 9 a.m. to noon, at the Georgetown Health Center located at 21635 Biden Avenue Georgetown, DE. Sign-on bonuses range from $2,500-5,000 for qualifying positions.

Positions include:

Certified Medical Assistant
Patient Service Representative
Patient Care Assistant
Physician Office Nurse
Practice Manager
Director of Primary Care

Beebe and Brews Networking Event

5-7 p.m. Tuesday, May 23

Join Beebe’s Talent Acquisition and Leadership team at Big Oyster Brewery (1007 Kings Highway, Lewes, DE) and enjoy a free happy hour drink and light appetizers in a relaxed atmosphere.

Openings are available for many positions, including nursing, certified medical assistants, phlebotomy, respiratory, and support services. Come find out about all the opportunities and career pathways Beebe Healthcare has to offer.

RSVP is required https://tinyurl.com/2p95u932.

Beebe Coffee and Careers

Beebe Healthcare will host two more Coffee and Careers events in May.

Those interested will have a chance to chat with recruiters and learn about the numerous benefits and exciting growth opportunities at Beebe Healthcare, including a $5 Starbucks gift card on Beebe. Sign on bonuses offered up to $10,000 for certain positions.

Join the Beebe team at the Starbucks at 19946 Coastal Hwy, Rehoboth Beach, DE, on Wednesday, May 17 and 31 from 7-9 a.m.

Beebe Healthcare is a not-for-profit community healthcare system with a charitable mission to encourage healthy living, prevent illness, and restore optimal health for the people who live in, work in, and visit the communities we serve. Beebe Healthcare has three campuses: the Margaret H. Rollins Lewes Campus, which houses the medical center; the Rehoboth Health Campus; and the South Coastal Health Campus. Beebe Healthcare offers primary care as well as specialized services in the areas of cardiovascular, oncology, orthopaedics, general surgery, robotic surgery, and women’s health. Beebe also offers walk-in care, lab, imaging, and physical rehabilitation services at several locations throughout Sussex County, in addition to a home health program and a comprehensive community health program.

For more information about Beebe Healthcare, visit beebehealthcare.org.

This article was originally posted on the Tech Impact website at: https://techimpact.org/news-press/tech-impact-awarded-jpmc-foundation-grant/

Delaware Beach Builder Marnie Oursler Shines In Custom Home Industry

Written by Live Love Delaware on May 3, 2023. Posted in Working in Delaware.

Marnie Custom Homes of Bethany Wins National Award

BETHANY BEACH — Years ago, Marnie Oursler moved down to Ocean View after college and started working as a realtor and other odd jobs to save up money and figure out her next step.

Instead, she built her own company, Marnie Custom Homes, which has built 140 houses to date and earned her the 2022 Custom Builder of the Year by the National Association of Home Builders. She was honored during the International Builders’ show in Las Vegas earlier this year.

“It’s pretty unbelievable,” Oursler told the Delaware Business Times. “I didn’t think it was something that we’d be recognized for on a national level. I feel like we were kind of the underdog because when I started I did feel like I was fighting my way through. Well, I guess people do notice you.”

Oursler is Delaware’s first builder honored with the award as well as the first woman.

“I’m just grateful to be doing this for a living,” she added. “I never thought 20 years ago when I started this that I’d be on a stage in Las Vegas for this award, thanking people. I’m definitely grateful.”

A Southern Maryland native, Oursler and her family spent their summer vacations at Delaware’s beaches. Her father was also a custom homebuilder and developer and would often drop her and her brother off at a new neighborhood where they would sweep out houses, build decks and form concrete.

When Oursler was 24, she decided to buy her first property – a tear-down house seven blocks from the beach – and flip and sell it. Then she repeated the process again and again.

“I couldn’t afford to hire a builder, and I was honestly surprised about how much I knew about the process,” she said. “I didn’t realize it growing up, but I was learning about new materials and maintaining a job site along the way. I was really surprised at how comfortable I was.”

After she flipped and sold her third house was when the neighbors started paying attention and wanting to hire her to build their dream homes. The timing to start her own company also wasn’t ideal. Marnie Custom Homes launched in September 2007, right ahead of the housing crisis. But through networking from her previous real estate career, she was able to land referral projects and shore up her brand.

Today, Marnie Custom Homes has 14 employees. She also hosted two television shows: DIY Network’s Big Beach Builds and HGTV’s 2018 Dream Home.

“It’s almost funny, because I didn’t really know the difference of the market at the time. But I did have a lot of questions at the time. How was I going to sustain this and do it for a living,” she said.

Oursler prefers to handle clients hands-on, starting first with their wish lists and then seeing what’s possible, especially in the living area ratios allowed by each municipality and flood zone requirements. Then it comes down to priorities and finances.

“A majority of our clients want the same things, like open showers. But in terms of how a family lives in a house, that’s where it becomes different,” she said. “We’ve had clients that we’ve dealt with for a number of years, so their family grows and we need to add more bedrooms. Or there was a wedding, so now you have to add more space.”

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, business boomed with people looking to escape the constant tedium of being indoors and renovating their houses. But Oursler said the pace is returning to normal: designing and building homes between Labor Day and Memorial Day, something she wants to keep doing for a long time.

“I don’t really want to do anything else. I love watching my team grow and get better, making sure our houses are creative. This is a lot of fun,” she said. “I always want to build new things, and for me, the current house I’m working on is my favorite.”

This article was originally posted on the Delaware Business Times at: https://delawarebusinesstimes.com/news/marnie-custom-homes-national-award/

sussex county business owners karen and tony sposato

Sussex County Cheers On Karen and Tony Sposato

Written by Live Love Delaware on February 25, 2022. Posted in Delaware Ambassadors, Working in Delaware.

Karen and Tony Sposato wanted to take their business to the next level. They started with Sposato Landscaping in 1992, which has served as an award-winning company for Sussex County over the last 30 years. With a dedication to their customers, Sposato Landscaping serves any type of outdoor need. Even with this great success, Karen and Tony sat down in 2021 and wondered what more they could do. Coming from an Italian family with a legacy of wine-making, Tony suggested starting their own vineyard, and so Sposato Family Vineyards was born. The company works from 66 hectares down in Argentina, producing a variety of wines, including a malbec, which is made with the signature grape of Argentina. The prices range so that anybody can find a wine they enjoy.

Karen: “Sposato Landscape has definitely grown in the last 30 years. We’ve been in business for 28 years, and, from there, we sort of spring-boarded, looking for something outside the box besides landscaping.”

Tony: “Grew up Italian, grew up around wine. Just one thing led to another, and we’re like, “Well, you know, what about vineyards.” So, we put out focus down on Argentina. And that was in 2012. And today we have 66 hectares in production.”

Karen: “We have both white and red. We have the classic malbec, which is the signature grape of Argentina. We have sauvignon blanc, chardonnay and a fresh blend. So, great wines to choose from at every price point for everybody’s taste and liking. Milton is, just, it’s really changed in the last 30 years that I’ve been here. I think the community here has really embraced us. We all want the best for each other.”

Tony: “It’s helped our business. It’s helping our wine. And I think people that are moving here in Sussex County, they do appreciate fine wines. They appreciate the outstanding restaurants we have here. And chefs also appreciate good wines, too.”

Karen: “I think that’s the other thing that’s great about this area is that people really support each other. They want people to come down and enjoy this area and realize and recognize what a special place it is. I think that’s what’s great about the area. We’re all cheering each other on.”

Finding Success and Support in Sussex County

Sposato Landscaping is located in Milton, Delaware since its inception. Tony and Karen thank the community for their continued success over the past 30 years, and they also credit the community with helping their wines flourish. Tony thanks the restaurants—their patrons and the chefs—for having a strong appreciation for good wine.

They have these other businesses to support their endeavors. Not only do they attribute success to residents both old and new enjoying fine wines, but Karen also says, “We all want the best for each other.” Sussex County, where Milton is situated, is an area where individuals and businesses support one another.

Not only do they want to see success for their own companies, but they know how great of a place Delaware is and all the different things it has to offer: from restaurants to beaches to wine to community. Because of this sense of pride and joy in the area, the community of Sussex—and really all of Delaware state—champions growing businesses so that growth can happen. The support comes full circle, with restaurants helping Sposato Vineyards get their name out while also being able to provide customers with a wine they can trust. Every county in Delaware is filled with organizations looking to uplift one another and create success for themselves and the community at large.

Tag: Sussex