Fizzeology: 10 Years of Building Community

The homegrown fermented sauerkraut business Fizzeology Foods, based in Viroqua, is looking forward to new opportunities during their 10th anniversary year. Established in 2009, Faith Anacker purchased the business in 2013, and she has continued the mission of developing a sustainable business that builds community instead of solely focusing on profits. “We’ve focused on the relationships in our community, supporting the local economy, having shorter work days, prioritizing employee happiness,” says Anacker. “We work hard to raise awareness of the health of fermented foods, helping people understand local and organic and taking care of your gut flora.”

This truly is a little business with a big heart. Anacker partners with a local job coaching service for people with disabilities, which brings two to four people to Fizzeology for a day to get job experience. She is passionate about reducing food waste and prioritizes using produce “seconds,” food that is perfectly edible but not the right size or shape for grocery stores, so it usually goes to waste in farmers’ fields. The business also doesn’t use plastic in their fermentation process, instead using glass or oak barrels. “Every day I’m weighing where things come from. Where does the food come from? Do my jars come from India or America?”

Fizzeology offers five varieties of certified organic krauts in three sizes: pints, quarts and gallons. “Many people don’t realize that we sell gallons, but the larger quantity is a great cost savings and lasts forever in the refrigerator,” Anacker says. In honor of their anniversary milestone, they will also develop four standard seasonal selections this year, plus fun limited-edition recipes that will only be available online or at events. Watch for the announcement of these new flavors in March. You can purchase Fizzeology products at retailers across Wisconsin and into Minnesota, at events where they’re displaying, and online at FizzeologyFoods.com.