frozen foods

fresh ideas

As our palate becomes increasingly globalized, our cravings for something from across the globe rely on proper freezing and packaging. Whether it’s convenience, budgeting, preservation, or sustainability, frozen foods are vital to the global food market and have completely changed how and what we eat. As local and international shipping technology grows, alongside that will be the frozen food market, with a value of $284 billion in 2023 and a projection of $363 billion by 2028. Frozen foods are becoming more and more popular to the average consumer. This month’s blog post focuses on different local businesses who are changing our regional food-scape. Here are four local vendors based in Michigan contributing to the local frozen food market by offering high-quality frozen foods with a unique story behind each product they’re passionate about.

Ptashka Crepes

Many of the foods we love from the Eastern European region have very humble origins, and their simplicity is why we crave them in the first place. Crepes, a well-known dish often filled with savory or sweet fillings, are a globally loved food and are a great example of how simplicity is deceivingly delicious. Ptashka, meaning “little bird” in Ukrainian, is a Michigan-based business started by a Mother and Daughter duo, and the family business has expanded rapidly. The Co-Owners grew up making nalysnyky (Ukrainian crepes with fillings) in Odessa, Ukraine. When the two of them immigrated to the US, they wanted to share their family recipes with their new community and since have cornered a market in the State they now call home. Ptashka’s Crepes uses wholesome ingredients without unnecessary preservatives, the crepes come frozen with easy reheating instructions for anyone craving an authentically delicious Slavic meal.

Mushroom Angel Co.

An experiment during a yearly fast from meat changed the lives of two ambitious people forever. A mushroom burger has turned the Da’Cruz family into small business owners in Detroit, Michigan. Dominique and W.E. Da’Cruz, East Coast natives with successful backgrounds, took upon a plant-based burger empire with mushrooms as the primary focus. After recreating a dish they ate in Malawi, the journey began during the first few months of the pandemic, constant meat scarcities alongside public scrutiny on the sanitation of the meat industries played a big part in the consumer shift to plant based alternatives and Mushroom Angel Co. was at the forefront delivering a quality product made with ingredients people could trust. Today, Mushroom Angel Co. has secured regional distribution and is being sold in 120+ locations across Michigan. Mushroom Angel Co. burgers can be found at restaurants, grocery stores, and local markets.

Flavoreat Foods

Based out of Michigan, Flavoreat Foods is a family-owned business that changed the idea of cheese bread for the Midwestern consumer by offering a frozen Brazilian-style cheese bread alongside mini churros filled with Dulce de Leche. Flavoreat Foods, based out of Wixom, MI, with Chef Marina Lopes at the helm, an ICE graduate and licensed Food Protection Manager, Marina maintains quality standards and recipe development. Their goal is to bring your family something easy to make, a consistent product with the highest quality ingredients that are easily reheated from frozen. The possibilities on what to create with the Brazilian style cheese bread are endless, from paninis to Caprese cheese breads or used as a dipping vessel for hummus or soups.

Hayah Treats

It all started back in 2016. Harmony Garden Cafe, a contemporary Middle Eastern restaurant in Midtown Detroit, began baking and sharing their treats with family and customers. Received well by the community, Hayah expanded its product diversity, and an array of sweet and savory dishes was created. Harmony Garden Cafe closed in 2022, but Hayah Treats remained, taking its place with a mission to continue serving its community. Founded by Tareq & Halimah in August 2022, Hayah Treats specializes in high-quality, delicious plant-based and gluten-free treats, as well as their signature Falafel products—crafted with the same rich, authentic flavors Tareq grew up enjoying as part of his family's Middle Eastern cuisine. Disappointed by the market’s offerings, they set out to share the real, magical, and irresistible taste of this nutritious powerhouse, often used as a meat alternative. Now, with plans to expand into the online delivery market, Hayah Treats is bringing its handcrafted flavors to an even wider audience.