Toasted Sesame Seed Castleton Crackers by Whitney Lamy Recommended by Whom You Know's Peachy's Pantry Panel
The first thing you notice about the Toasted Sesame Seed cracker from Castleton Crackers is the thickness. They have a great line of natural crackers. The toasted sesame seed crackers are super thick. This adds to the impression that they’re hearty as well as healthy. They are a great, filling snack. I tried them with some homemade pumpkin butter, and the flavors complemented each other perfectly.
Each morning I start my day with some yogurt and fruit. I decided this wasn't quite enough to get me going, and now I have found the perfect accompaniment. Now as part of my breakfast routine, I have added Castleton Cracker's Toasted Sesame Seed graham crackers. They are exactly what I needed. They taste great, and I love that they are made from only natural ingredients. They are now a permanent addition to my grocery list!
My dog loves these crackers. To some people, that might not mean much, but when you have to hide the box from your dog??? Castleton Crackers has got the cracker down pat. The cracker itself is broken into bits (really big bits, mind you) and packaged in an artisan box, with a homey feel to it. It belies its sophistication, so get ready for the flavor, the texture, and the satisfaction that will hit your tastebuds when you crack open a box of Castleton's. The toasted Sesame lends an air of light fragrance to any cheese tray, but serve them with a great soup, or stew. Break them into your salad as croutons. Eat them right out of the box for a snack, too, and don't think twice about hiding a box for yourself. They're that good. Grafton Graham Toasted Sesame may be the newest graham cracker crust for me.
Who doesn't love graham crackers? Ever since I was little, graham crackers have been a staple for snacks and lunches. And now, thanks to Whitney's Castleton Crackers, there is a remarkably tasty, hearty graham cracker to enjoy. Their Toasted Sesame Seed Graham Crackers, like all of their products, are all-natural, handmade, and hand-cracked. Because of the hand-cracking, they come in all different shapes and sizes, which gives them a rustic quality, and they are also much thicker than traditional, grocery-store graham crackers, making them a substantial snack. For old times' sake, I topped mine with peanut butter, and the result made me so happy - comfort food done perfectly! I will definitely be staying stocked with these going forward!
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CASTLETON CRACKERS
By Whitney Lamy, founder
A Passionate Beginning
Five years ago, after losing my job in arts management, I realized that I love food and I love to feed people good food. My dream was to start my own food company. And not just any company, I saw a Vermont niche.
With my interest in art and baking, long ago I came across a recipe for homemade crackers from the 1800’s. Who makes homemade crackers I thought? I adapted the recipe to reflect the wholesomeness of Vermont. Most crackers contain refined sugars. I replaced the sugar with all natural pure Vermont maple syrup. Over the years I baked my homemade crackers for family and friends to much enthusiasm. Many would encourage me to sell the crackers. I always put the idea on hold until I started paying attention to the growth and creation of Vermont artisan and farmstead cheese companies around the state and the formation of the Vermont Cheese Council.
Thinking there might be a niche for a Vermont artisan cracker to complement all these wonderful Vermont cheeses I began my market research. I visited numerous gourmet and food co-op stores in Vermont and realized no company was creating a unique artisanal cracker.
This motivated me to start my own business producing all natural Vermont artisan crackers. With two daughters in college the family capital was pretty much spoken for but I was determined to move forward. I evaluated the pros and cons and new I was, “passionate” about my delicious crackers and that I was my number one asset.
A Recipe for Homemade Success
I took action and Castleton Crackers was born at the Rutland Winter’s Farmers Market. The farmer’s market turned out to be a wonderful resource for little investment. Every Saturday, I was face to face with potential customers getting feedback seeing if I got repeat buyers and testing price points. The exposure of Castleton Crackers at the farmer’s market led to retail interest around the state. Within several months I signed on with my first distributor of Vermont specialty foods.
I faced and continue to face the odds of a new food business success and failure rates, having to wear all the hats such as sales and marketing, production, and limited funds especially during an economic downturn. I stayed on track and was committed to my brand of crackers. I chose to work with a manufacturer to produce and fulfill my cracker line rather than invest in a facility, equipment and employees. Although I introduced a new product into a market that was already saturated with specialty crackers I stayed focused. I feel strongly that the Vermont brand of high quality and sense of place only enhances my product.
From My Kitchen to Stores and Homes Across the Country
Five years later, Castleton Crackers are now sold nationwide through eight distributors. Currently, stores the size of Whole Foods, Hannaford’s and Price Chopper carry Castleton crackers as well as small specialty cheese shops and co-ops. Sales have continued to grow 30% annually. Without a PR agent on the payroll, The New York Times promoted Castleton Crackers in an article, “Crackers With a Good New England Crunch” (Food Section, February 16, 2011) along with the popular Rachael Ray Show featuring Castleton Crackers as “the snack of the day” on May 16, 2010.
Feeding and Funding Great Success
In January 2013, Castleton Crackers was purchased by the Vermont Farmstead Cheese Company in South Woodstock, VT. I remain with VFCC and head up the Castleton Specialty Food Division, overseeing sales and marketing, production, quality control and development of new products.
Castleton Crackers
Castleton, Vermont
