Small Business Success Story: Danelle and Josh Nutt

Lending
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Danelle and Josh Nutt own Nutt Family Jams and Jellies. The jams and jellies are homemade using fruits and vegetables grown on the Nutt family’s acreage outside Ravenna, Nebraska.
 

Jams and jellies turn into career

Danelle, and her husband, Josh, came up with the idea for their family business more than a decade ago while making Christmas gift baskets for family and friends. Since then, the business has grown and thrived due to Danelle’s hard work and dedication.

Assistance from Center for Rural Affairs

Danelle had been wanting to add nutrition labels to her products, but always came upon a road block. The family was unsure who to talk to and where to begin. Craig Eberle, loan specialist for Center for Rural Affairs, guided the Nutts in plans to start making nutritional labels for the jellies by working with the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.

Award winner

Danelle received the Center for Rural Affairs 2018 Women’s Business Center Entrepreneur Award as the owner and operator of Nutt Family Jams and Jellies.

Knowledge is key

"We specialize in making a wide variety of jams and jellies, syrups, and hand scrubs. And, we can easily tell you what to eat any flavor on or with." -Danelle Nutt

"We started making bigger batches [of jams and jellies] each year so we could sell them at shows and take pride in knowing absolutely everything about the ingredients in our products. Gradually, we’ve made bigger batches and more flavors for Christmas presents, craft fairs, and stores trying to expand our business and make new contacts." -Danelle Nutt

Expand the reach

"Danelle is very deserving of all her success. She has developed a product that is growing in popularity, and with the new labeling, this will hopefully allow her to expand reach and get the products into more stores throughout Nebraska." - Craig Eberle, loan specialist for Center for Rural Affairs

Future plans

Danelle hopes to continue making new flavors, as well as sell her products in more stores, attend more craft shows and fairs, and to eventually build a licensed kitchen on their property. She also hopes to expand their Nutt Family Country Market Produce Basket deliveries using the homegrown produce out of their gardens.

One-on-one assistance available

To utilize this resource, visit cfra.org/loans.

Funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. All SBA funded programs are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities and/or persons with limited English proficiency will be made if requested in advance. This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.