Dissatisfied with the granola options in their local grocery stores, Brattleboro-based Ingrid and Franklin Chrisco (pictured above) decided to start the True North Granola Company from their home kitchen in 2006 while still actively working as educators. They believed that their family and friends preferred the homemade granola recipes they had been baking for more than 30 years.

In the summer of 2006, the Chriscos began selling their “Go Nuts Granola” at the Brattleboro Area Farmers Market, and quickly it became the best seller there and at the local food co-op. Without solicitation, many customers would share, “True North Granola is the best [they] have ever had.”

Bolstered by excellent customer feedback, the Chriscos decided to create additional flavors and expand into other markets. They sell their granola to more than 40 co-ops across the country, including our own Hunger Mountain Coop. True North Granola offers six regular flavors and three that are gluten free. Two of the gluten-free flavors are also vegan.

Their home kitchen has been replaced with a commercial kitchen, but the granola is still made by hand, in small batches, and slow- baked. Retaining the original commitment to high-quality, healthy, homemade granola, every batch of True North’s granola is packed with flavor and all-natural ingredients.

True North Granola Company from Roger Smith Hotel on Vimeo.

True North Granola’s Guiding Principles

1. TrueNorthGranolaisacompanyinserviceto others. We will serve our customers well and build lasting, personal relationships with them.
2. True North Granola will offer only high- quality, healthy products by choosing only the highest-quality ingredients.
3. True North Granola will provide intense focus on quality control and consistent product delivery.
4. True North Granola will train employees, celebrate their accomplishments, and treat them well.
5. True North Granola will intentionally contribute to the healthy eating habits of children, students, and the community. We will do our part to reduce childhood obesity.
6. True North Granola will support the local economy by working with local vendors as much as possible.
7. True North Granola will not lose sight of its roots – exceptional products, quality control, and fantastic customer service.
8. “Slow and steady,” True North Granola will build a sustainable company, which will continue to provide jobs to local community members.

You can meet Franklin and Ingrid every Saturday from May through October at the Brattleboro Farmers Market or find their products in the gluten-free bulk foods section at The Coop.