Taos Hum Hot Sauce
Joe and Loe Marcoline live in New Mexico, just right outside Taos. Loe is a transplant of Canada and came to Taos in 2008, while Joe originally moved here around 1996 but left for some time to attend college. They own about twenty-six acres of land south of Taos, where they grow super-hot peppers.
How the Farm Came About
This journey began when both of them started growing much food for their sustenance. Afterward, they ventured into selling their food to the market at an affordable price for everyone. Nevertheless, they also wanted to ensure that the food quality is up to par and safe for people to consume.
Their Meeting Story
Loe and Joe met when they were at the University of British Columbia, where they were both bike club members. After clearing University,the two returned to New Mexico and bought a vacant piece of land, which they transformed into a functional farmland.
Why They Decided to Buy the Land
For them, farming is a passion that they cannot do without. So,it was inevitable for Joe and Loe to purchase this land after returning to New Mexico. On the land, they realized that the area is really off the grid and does not have enough water for planting food. However, they took advantage of the natural springs and wells around the area to facilitate their planting passion.
What Made Them Switch from Produce to Peppers
While shopping for hot sauce, Loe and Joe realized that there are no local hot sauce brands in Taos. This lit up a bulb on their heads, and they thought that it would be a good idea to come up with a hot sauce that's grown and processed locally. Moreover, the excitement that they received initially from offering samples to others is what got the two more motivated to start this brand.
Coming Up with the Name
With the idea already in mind, the two thought of a unique name for their new product. They also wanted a product that explained its origin right out of reading its name. So, the name Taos Hum hot sauce is both catchy and tells you its origin, making it relatable to the community's people.
Types of Pepper They Grow and Harvest
Although they grow some ghost peppers, it is predominantly jalapenos. They also grow Serrano, ghost pepper, green cherry peppers, and habaneros, among other types of peppers.
As for the growing season, things change for them depending on the pepper. Hence, they have to adapt to the changes to develop good quality products that can reach the market value.
How Long They Have Been in Business
Loe and Joe have been operating and working on their farm since they bought it in 2010. However, this hot sauce project has only been in this phase for about a year and a half. However, with over 33,000 bottles sold this year,they feel like this project will take a good direction.
Future Expectations
Joe and Loe hope to continue providing quality hot sauce tot heir customers. Because they are only a small start-up, they hope to scale their business appropriately and not drastically because they feel it might cost them unnecessary hiccups.
Their Encouragement Message
First, they always encourage people to focus more on what they like doing and keep pushing no matter the challenges. Also, they feel that COVID is motivation and came to show people that they can be brave, do different things, and take that leap towards achieving their dreams and goals.
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