This article was originally published on Shoutout Arizona on December 12, 2O21. To read the full story, please visit: https://shoutoutarizona.com/meet-jennifer-meyers-ceo-chief-confectionist/
We had the good fortune of connecting with Jennifer Meyers and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Jennifer, how do you think about risk?
Earth Sugar was born out of risk.
On January 4, 2021, I sat perched at a writing table in my Brooklyn apartment and I was overwhelmed with emotion. In approximately 5 hours, I was hopping on a one-way flight to Arizona, during a pandemic, to take a trip that I hadn’t planned yet. I just knew it was time to go chase my dreams.
When I rented that apartment in Brooklyn pre-pandemic, I pictured a very different life for myself. I just turned 25 and I landed a job as the Director of Research & Development for a well-known vegan yogurt brand, Lavva. The energy of the city fueled me with the belief I’d do something great there. I’d become a master vegan chef, I’d write an incredible cookbook, I’d start food education classes… I would find my purpose. And yet, there I was nearly a year later, and my life didn’t look even close to what my dreams invented in my sleep. I don’t blame the pandemic, I don’t blame the city, and I don’t blame myself or anyone around me. At the end of the day, I believe it was the Universe telling me… “Nope, not here honey.”
When I landed in Phoenix on January 4th, my whole life changed. I messaged a guy named Joey Rizzo. We went to the same high school, Northern Valley Regional High School of Old Tappan, and he was the only person I knew that lived in Arizona. He picked me up from the airport that day with dinner… and he is now the love of my life. We are on a forever adventure together.
In my first month here, I explored every inch of Arizona by hiking over 100 miles of mountains throughout Phoenix, Tempe, Sedona, Flagstaff and Tucson. I stayed in new places, talked to new people, ate new foods and just said YES to everything. Once February hit, I knew this was my new home. I knew this was where I wanted to launch Earth Sugar. So Joey helped me road trip my things from Brooklyn to Arizona on a 12-day excursion, and the rest is history.
Wisdom comes with listening, learning and living. Wisdom comes with meeting new people, going to new places and putting yourself out of your comfort zone. Wisdom comes with feeling your emotions, all of them. Wisdom is knowing when to stay and knowing when to leave, temporarily or forever. Wisdom is the ability to look at your world and yourself and see it for what it really is and what it really could be.
There was no risk in making this leap. The bigger risk would’ve been to stay in that Brooklyn Apartment waiting for the world to save me and give me the keys to the castle. If you believe in yourself, your decisions, and your happiness… there is no possible way to fail.
Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
EARTH SUGAR is a first-of-its-kind Superfood Confectionary that specializes in organic desserts, energetic snacks, clean label confections and adaptogenic pantry items. We handcraft each product with fruits, plants and purpose, and never use natural flavors, additives, preservatives, or chemicals! We believe fruit is candy, hemp seeds are sprinkles and sweetness should only come from plants & trees.
Our mission is to minimize our environmental footprint, inspire culinary creativity and ensure our own human health by doing dessert differently! Our products are suitable for a vegan, gluten-free, and paleo diet, accommodating a wide variety of allergies and dietary requirements. We never use peanuts, artificial colors, natural flavors, protein powders, gums & fillers, refined sugar, sugar alcohols and all the other ingredients that are making humans sick with stomach pain, joint pain, and a host of other issues triggered by ultra processed foods. Many of our options are digestive friendly, high in energy and are low glycemic/diabetic approved.
We want to bring the world joy through healthy desserts that taste even MORE spectacular than traditional store bought desserts and candy. If you like sweet, you’ll LOVE Earth Sugar.
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Our favorite Phoenix hot spots! Matt’s Big Breakfast, The Giving Tree Cafe, Comoncy Coffee, Press Coffee. We love to hike mountains our favorite local spots are Camelback and Piestwa, but the Earth Sugar team constantly travels to Sedona, Flagstaff and National Parks like Zion, Yosemite and Joshua Tree!
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I am dedicating this shoutout to my parents and my little brother, John Joe. My father John Meyers and my mother Mary Meyers are everything to me. They turned me into the firecracker I am. My father is an exceptional Dad, business owner, sales person, and is ALWAYS the life of the party. He has been my role model since I was a little girl and to this day, I always try to think, “What would my Father do?” My mother is a strong willed, compassionate, intelligent, business savvy, and the kindest human you’ll ever meet. She is my best friend, mother, sister, soulmate all wrapped up into one.
Together, they own a company called Pumping Solutions, Inc. and my little (but MUCH TALLER) brother, John Joe Meyers, works harder than any young adult I know at my father’s side every day. We are a team of 4 and without them, I would not be the Jenny I am today. They are everything to me.
Website: https://www.loveearthsugar.com/pages/earthsugar
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loveearthsugar/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/72437538/admin/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/loveearthsugar/manage_shops
Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@loveearthsugar
Image Credits
Jennifer Meyers, Earth Sugar