Local freeze dried strawberries

Small Business Spotlight: Crunch On! Snacks, Freeze-Dried Fruit, Candy & Ice Cream

Ever wanted to crunch into a strawberry that tastes like summer, or a piece of ice cream that doesn't melt in your hand? Say hello to Crunch On! Snacks, the freeze-dried treat shop you'll find at both The Lazy Daisy Virginia Beach and The Lazy Daisy Yorktown.

Behind the snacks is owner Amy Lu, who started with a social media rabbit hole and turned it into a thriving local business.

It started with TikTok

Amy's story begins the way a lot of modern stories do. She was scrolling TikTok and kept seeing videos about freeze-dried candy. When she looked around, she couldn't find anyone in our area making it. That was five years ago. She bought a freeze-dryer, and Crunch On! was born.

Today she runs a team, and what began as one machine is now nine freeze-dryers. Amy and her crew prep and freeze-dry everything themselves.

What's freeze-dried, anyway?

Freeze-drying freezes food, then uses a vacuum to remove nearly all of its water. What's left keeps its flavor and shape but turns light and crunchy. Fruit becomes a concentrated, crisp snack. Candy puffs up with a satisfying crunch. Ice cream becomes a crisp treat that melts in your mouth. Because the water is gone, freeze-dried snacks are also shelf-stable, which makes them easy to pack for lunches, road trips, and gift baskets.

What's in the lineup

  • Fruits and veggies, made with whatever's in season
  • Ice cream and other dairy treats
  • Desserts
  • Your favorite candies

Amy picks what to make based on what's in season, plus whatever sells best. Her own favorites are the freeze-dried pineapple and any of the dairy products. If you're not sure where to start, those are great picks.

Local, from the farm to your snack bag

Crunch On! sources from Virginia farms whenever possible, which supports local growers as well as local makers. Amy also loves to promote and sell other locally made products. She sees these makers every week at farmers markets and enjoys sharing their stories and their products.

A customer story we love

Amy's favorite customer moments are the ones where people "tell on themselves." Shoppers pick up freeze-dried snacks at a grocery store or big chain, find that they're not very good, and come back to Crunch On! vowing to buy only from her from now on. Once you've had the real thing, it's hard to go back!

Why Amy loves being a small business owner

For Amy, it's about a flexible schedule and doing something she's passionate about. She also loves the community that came with it.

"I love being an entrepreneur and the community it has brought me."

And what does she love about being at The Lazy Daisy? Great exposure and support for local makers and producers. We love having her.

Why you'll love Crunch On! Snacks

  • Fun for all ages. Kids love the candy, adults love the fruit, and everyone loves the ice cream.
  • A good gift. Pack a few bags into a gift basket, stocking, or care package.
  • Great for travel. They're light and easy to carry.
  • A way to support local. Your purchase helps a small business and Virginia farms.

Where to find Crunch On! Snacks

Look for Crunch On! Snacks at either of our stores:

๐Ÿ“ The Lazy Daisy Virginia Beach, 4001 Virginia Beach Blvd
๐Ÿ“ The Lazy Daisy Yorktown, 5007 Victory Blvd

Amy and her team also set up at local farmers markets and community events. Follow @crunchonsnacks on social media to see where they'll be next. ๐ŸŒผ

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