Certified Flavor
What began as a family pastime has turned into a small-town business that aims to spice up kitchens across North Dakota and beyond.
Arica Levey, owner and founder of Little Muddy Spice Company, said the idea grew slowly over years of home cooking and experimenting with the seasonings her family used for sausage and jerky. Her father had long shared the blends with friends and neighbors, and when he told her he no longer wanted to keep doing it, Levey decided to take the recipes and try to build something more formal.
“It wasn’t really one big moment,” Levey said. “My family has always liked to cook and experiment. Over the years, my dad had a lot of people ask if they could get our sausage and jerky seasonings, so he started sharing them with friends and family. A couple of years ago, he mentioned he really didn’t want to keep doing it anymore and asked if I would want to take it over.”
Levey said she wanted to do it “the right way.” It was a challenge getting licensed, finding a certified kitchen and creating a product that could be sold in retail stores and online. That meant navigating a web of regulations and learning how to move from a home recipe to a commercially produced product.