Today we’d like to introduce you to Rochelle Berg.
Hi rochelle, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was a nurse when Living Smart Granola began, and during the pandemic I switched gears from healthcare to baker and entrepreneur.
It started in our family kitchen, making homemade granola for my husband, and quickly opened my eyes to the need for truly delicious, allergen-friendly food that more people could enjoy.
Today, Living Smart Granola is a women-owned, family-run business, and everything we make is handmade with care. Our granola is free from all Top 9 allergens, made without seed oils or refined sugar, and we even offer diabetic-friendly options.
Even our logo tells our story—it was inspired by a real photo of me and my daughter on the D&R Canal during the pandemic.
We bootstrapped the business from the ground up, growing one bag, one customer, and one farmers market at a time. Our community has supported us every step of the way, and we truly wouldn’t be here without them.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Starting a business from the ground up always comes with obstacles—and a lot of uncertainty. We constantly have to think about rising costs, growth, and how to keep moving forward responsibly. It’s scary, especially because this business is our family’s only source of income.
My husband was laid off and made the decision to put everything he had into building Living Smart Granola with me. It’s also just the two of us doing all of the baking and running the business, so in many ways, it all starts and ends with us.
There is no backup plan. We’ve truly bet on ourselves, our product, and the community that has supported us. That uncertainty is our biggest challenge, but it’s also what pushes us to keep working, growing, and making this business succeed.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We make handmade granola with a real focus on inclusivity, quality, and care. What we’re most proud of is creating something that people with allergies, dietary restrictions, and different nutritional needs can actually enjoy together.
Our customers know us for our big clusters, simple ingredients, and fun, indulgent flavors. We also love creating seasonal specials and partnering with other local businesses whenever we can, which makes the products feel even more connected to our community.
What sets us apart most is the heart behind it. We’re a small family business, we know many of our customers personally, and we genuinely care about what goes into every bag. For us, it’s about making great food, supporting local, and making people feel included.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
What makes me happiest is really very simple: baking, my family, and our farmers markets. Saturdays are my favorite day of the week because I get to spend them with the people I love most—my husband and my daughter—while sharing something we’ve created together.
There’s something so special about watching someone try our granola for the first time, seeing their reaction, and hearing how much they enjoy it. The gratitude and connection we feel from our customers means more to me than I can really put into words.
Sometimes I still can’t believe this is what I get to do. I get to build something I love, with my family by my side, surrounded by a community that has supported us so wholeheartedly. It really is the best thing ever.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.livingsmartgranola.com
- Instagram: @livingsmartgranola
