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Boardman man's granola recipe is winner
BOARDMAN
A township man’s recipe for maple syrup-infused granola is a bona fide winner.
The Center for Innovative Food Technology announced Friday that Rich Berg, 42, of Woodrow Avenue, is one of three winners in the center’s Ohio Signature Food Contest.
Berg created Pancake Maples syrup about two years ago. The sap he uses comes from the sugar- maple trees on Pancake Tree Farm, a 132-acre plot of forest owned by his family on Pancake Clarkson Road in Negley.
Contest applicants completed written application and presentations to judges, who selected the winners based on the viability of the product, commercialization potential, business strategy and overall market appeal, according to a news release.
Now Berg will receive direct consultation and technical assistance from the center to help his start-up business.
“I think I won because it’s a good product and represented Ohio,” Berg said.
Berg said he’ll have to do some “soul searching” to determine how big he wants his company to get.
“I’m going to take it slow like I’ve been doing. It’s been an enjoyable two years,” he said. “There’s more to life than just to try to make your business as big as it can be with all the headaches. But still, you never dream within two years of getting into this, it would get this big.”
Berg was the only winner from the Mahoning Valley. The other winners were Ed Arnold, of Copley, for hot peppers in oil and Ben Metzler, of Uniontown, for “kraut krisps,” a snack chip made primarily from sauerkraut and cabbage.
Valley residents can find Berg’s maple products at Sparkle Market on Market Street, Rulli Brothers on South Avenue, Anzevino’s Italian store in Boardman Plaza and Gordy’s in Creekside Plaza.