Minnesota’s Nicest Spice

Article by Rachel Kahn, MCT Contributor

My introduction to Minnesota Nice Spice began in a very non-traditional way.

This story begins in an elevator. One day while entering my condo lobby to begin the ascent to my little apartment in the sky, I found myself face to face with joyful eyes and purple hair. What comes along with the purple and joy is where the kindness begins.

Introducing Lucy. Ms. Purple and Joy. Lucy is a happy adult, diagnosed with development delays and is the inspiration for all that you are about to read.

Lucy’s sister Debb Masterson is the founder of Minnesota Nice Spice and a local downtown Mill City resident. Debb, a former restaurant owner and organic gardener, began many years ago harvesting and drying her homegrown herbs. She would combine them together into creative blends using a recipe passed along by her grandmother. Her friends and family were often the lucky recipients of her creative blends.

As the story unfolds, Debb and Lucy’s mother passed away twelve years ago. Debb, and her supportive husband Jim became the guardian of Ms. Lucy and moved to downtown Minneapolis where years later they would become my neighbors. In her new role as guardian, Debb wanted to provide only the best for Lucy. She speaks of her concern that Lucy could only get very basic janitorial jobs and the lack of social stimuli had her desiring only to watch daytime TV. Lucy was surviving, not thriving.  Debb set her intentions to change that and the universe intervened. One day in 2009 while walking in her new downtown neighborhood, she was introduced to Interact, a Minneapolis arts program for the disabled.  An introduction that would soon change both their lives.

Lucy was accepted to Interact and excelled! It turns out this lovely happy lady is also a fantastic artist.  She attends Interact three days a week. Debb describes Lucy’s new self-confidence. She tells me how the art center ‘transformed’ Lucy’s life and has made her a part of a community. “I am the lucky one” Debb states with joyful tears in her eyes.

So what does this have to do with spice, you ask? Well… one day in 2011 Lucy came home and announced to Debb that they needed to go shopping for bottled water. After a perplexed Debb asked her why, Lucy told her sister that the arts center could no longer afford the water cooler so everyone had to start bringing their own water. Such a statement immediately sprung Debb into action. How could such an incredible place be in such dire financial circumstances? How could she help, Debb wondered? A light bulb went off. Her spice creations that everyone loved! Could she sell them to benefit Interact she wondered? Yes! She could and she did!

With no background in this very complicated wholesale food business, she began researching all the avenues to bring her spice blends to market. Labeling, sourcing, licensing, marketing…. The list is endless. Yet, somehow she knew she would make it work. Her debut came in late 2011 at the Do It Green gift fair. She didn’t even have a website, yet she had a product and a goal.

It is now three years later and Debb’s spices can be found in a plethora of fabulous places. In downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota Nice Spice is at Whole Foods, the Mill City Museum Store, and Local D’Lish along with on-line sales and many other great locations.

While spending time together, Debb showed me her latest creations, Minnesota Nice Spice gift boxes. This summer she is featuring a grilling kit, complete with recipes and a cedar plank. Minnesota Nice Spice gift boxes are so cool that many corporate clients are reaching out to her so they can provide the organic, local, healthy products to their lucky clients and employees.

Guess what? It doesn’t stop there…. Drum roll please! Are you ready?! Debb gives all her profits to Interact!! She doesn’t take a check. Really. Smile with amazement. It is true.

Thank you Debb. I think we are the lucky ones.

Minnesota Nice Spice can be found at http://www.mnnicespice.com/ and on Facebook.

LoveSelf note: We have created two recipes using Debb’s spice blends. Check out…

Ginger Asparagus Soup

Peach Flax Muffins

You can reach Rachel at rachel@loveself.org, www.loveselfmagazine.com