The Process
In 1980, Darlene Ball created VegetaBall's Farm Pesto in her home kitchen in Claremont, NH. Inspired by traditional Italian cooking (rather than the highly processed cooking of America post-1950), Darlene became determined to provide a high-quality pesto to her community without any additives or artificial preservatives. And man, she did just that. Darlene started by selling six containers a day at the local farmer's market, but quickly, an enthusiastic response turned her hobby into a flourishing, full-time business.
In 2017, a local man, a Claremonter himself, Jeff Barrette, discovered VegetaBall's Pesto for the first time and fell in love. So deeply so, he begged his wife for permission to buy the company. Already running Ink Factory Clothing in Claremont, NH, she was skeptical at first, and with her husband serving as the County Commissioner, she wasn't sure they'd have the time. But after tasting the incredible pesto and hearing her children would be willing to step up, Sarah was convinced. Darlene is now free to enjoy her well-deserved retirement in the same farmhouse where it all began, and Vegetaball's Pesto moved downtown.
Forty years and counting, Vegetaball's hasn't compromised on integrity. It continues to be made by hand in small batches with the same quality ingredients. At the helm, Terry and Lisa join Jeff; as old friends of Darlene's, they have been with Vegetaball's since the beginning. Following their lead is a crew made up of: friends from high school, a niece, a grandmother, and Jeff's own lovely daughters as they balance raising ducks and schoolwork to lend a hand to the business they helped to grow.