Marie Sharp's facts for kids
Marie Sharp's Fine Foods Ltd., better known as Marie Sharp's, is a company that makes tasty sauces and jams. It is located in the Stann Creek District of Belize, a country in Central America. This company is owned by women and is named after its founder, Marie Sharp. People love Marie Sharp's for its special habanero pepper sauces, which are made with carrots. These hot sauces are known around the world for being very delicious.
Marie Sharp's offers many different kinds of sauces. They are made from fresh fruits and vegetables grown on farms. These include carrots, orange and grapefruit pulp, nopales (cactus), tamarind, mango, and pineapple. These are mixed with crushed habanero peppers or other types of chili peppers. Marie Sharp exports her habanero pepper sauces to more than 30 countries worldwide.
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History of Marie Sharp's
Marie Sharp, who was 81 years old in 2021, owns the company. She started selling her sauces locally in 1981 from her 400-acre farm called Melinda Estates. This farm is located near Dangriga. Because more and more people wanted her sauces, a factory was built in 1985. This factory is now also a popular place for tourists to visit.
Marie Sharp's product was the first successful farm product made in Belize and sold to other countries. It was first called "Melinda’s Hot Sauce." This name came from the Melinda family farm. In 1989, Marie's recipe was the first habanero pepper sauce to be sold all over the United States. This happened through a company called Reese Finer Foods.
A New Name for the Sauce
After the sauce became popular, the company that was selling it, Figueroa International Inc., trademarked the name "Melinda's Hot Sauce." This meant Marie Sharp could no longer use her own product's name. After five years, Marie Sharp decided to give up the original name. In return, she was freed from her special contract with the importer. She then renamed the product using her own name: Marie Sharp's. Since then, her sauces are sold not only in Belize but also in many parts of Central and North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
Awards and New Flavors
In 2013, Marie Sharp's sauces were chosen for the "Taste13 Showcase" at the Anuga Food Fair in Cologne. This is the world's largest food fair, and her products were among the top three. By 2014, Marie Sharp's sales reached $3.8 million. In 2016, Marie Sharp herself was honored by being added to the Hot Sauce Hall of Fame. That same year, the company launched a new sauce called "Smokin' Marie's." This sauce uses smoked habanero peppers. They use a mix of orange, grapefruit, guava, and craboo wood to smoke the peppers.
Family and Community Support
On January 14, 2019, Gerry Sharp, Marie's husband and business partner, passed away. He was a very important person in the citrus fruit industry in Belize. He helped shape that industry a lot.
On January 27, 2019, Marie Sharp's oldest son, Michael Alexander Williams, Sr., who was 58, also passed away. Michael had managed the company's operations in Belize City since the 1990s. He was very important to the continued success of the Marie Sharp's brand in Belize's biggest market and across Central America.
On February 14, 2019, Marie Sharp's partnered with the US Embassy in Belize. They launched a new pineapple pepper sauce called "Pure Love." This sauce was created to help support efforts to combat difficult situations at home. A part of the money from selling "Pure Love" goes to Haven House. This is a non-profit shelter that helps people who need support. It helps them take control of their lives and make positive changes. On February 2, 2022, Jody Williams, Marie Sharp's grandson, gave Haven House its latest donation. Dr. Sharmayne Saunders, the President of Haven House, explained that these kinds of efforts are very important. They help people who need assistance and support.
How Marie Sharp's Sauces Are Made
Marie Sharp first started making hot sauce in her home. She used hand blenders in the hills of Pomona Village. At that time, she lived with her husband, Gerry Sharp. In 2021, Marie Sharp celebrated 40 years of making sauces.
Sauce Flavors
Marie Sharp does not use fermented peppers in her recipes. Instead, her sauces are made with fresh fruits and vegetables. These ingredients are cooked slowly for many hours. This process creates a smooth, rich sauce that still has small pieces of vegetables in it.
Jelly, Jam, Chutney, and Salsa
In 1982, Marie Sharp found that her farm had a lot of extra fruit. She visited local markets to get ideas for new products she and other farmers could make to sell more. She noticed that all the jams, jellies, and marmalades sold in stores were made from fruits that were not tropical. She saw this as a great chance to create something new.
Marie Sharp experimented with different recipes. She created products with more fruit than required by the US Food and Drug Administration. She also started selling her products without adding any preservatives. Today, Marie Sharp's makes many kinds of fruit preserves. These are sold both in Belize and in other countries.
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