Farmers Market vendor spices things up with his jerky business
This content was reported on and written by a high school student for the University of Idaho’s annual journalism workshop.
An award-winning seasoning company jerks tears from their customers with their notorious spicy jerky, all while winning their hearts with their northern hospitality.
Moscow gained another street vendor in its Farmers Market four years ago with founder and operator of Redneck Seasonings, Ray Templeton. Templeton started Redneck Seasonings five years ago in a town halfway between Troy and Moscow.
Demi Manglona | Guest Writer
Ray Templeton, owner of Redneck Seasonings, started the business partially with the challenge to make a food item too hot for his sons.
Redneck Seasonings specializes in their multitude of spices and beef jerky.
“I’ve made jerky my whole life, but I’ve never did it to sell,” Templeton said. “I have two son-in-laws that like really hot stuff, so I made a vow I was going to make stuff too hot for them. That’s how it started.”
After years of making his own jerky, he said he finally achieved his goal and created a new flavor too spicy for his in-laws. The flavor was concocted from a pepper named the Carolina Reaper, which was recently named the hottest pepper in the world.
This jerky was seasoned in sea salt containing the pepper, which is also on sale along with its chewy partner.
According to Templeton’s website, aside from super spicy, Redneck Seasonings also offers milder goods for less adventurous people. Templeton has generated many products, including pepper powders, powdered sea salt blends and various flavored and seasoned sea salt. Some blends include non-spicy options such as Lemon Twist, Vanilla Bean and Toasted Onion, while the other side of the spectrum holds jalapeno infused sea salts, Mean Green and “Fire-In-Yer-Mouth” hot salt.
Demi Manglona | Guest Writer
Aside from spicy seasonings, Redneck Seasonings provides multiple flavored sugars.
Taking a break from the spice, the company also makes candies such as caramels and pralines. Five different kinds of flavored sugar are also sold in cinnamon, lime, honey, vanilla and ginger, according to Templeton’s website.
Templeton said there are four types of jerky sold at the Farmers Market. They vary from mild to warm to hot, packing a punch for heat lovers and savoring the flavor for fans of weaker spices.
The bottom of the spice ladder, he said, begins with “Limeapeno,” a combination of jalapeno spices with a kick of lime.
“Limapeno” is followed by two warmer flavors: “Filet of Ghost,” their debut jerky, and “Honey Dragon,” their best seller for this year, Templeton said.
He said for the fearless customers, “The Grim Reaper” fulfills its name with its intense spiciness and the use of the Carolina Reaper. “The Grim Reaper” has been named “Best Beef Jerky” by Steve Johnson, an experienced beef jerky reviewer. Although not Redneck Seasonings’ best seller, it is the spiciest jerky they have to offer.
Before the company’s opening, Templeton owned a different company for 17 years and was a commercial pilot.
“I’m retired and trying to stay out of trouble,” Templeton said.
Being a Vietnam War veteran with a militaristic son-in-law leads to a 10 percent discount to everyone who is or has been in the military, Templeton said. Redneck Seasonings is a strong advocate of the military and deliver jerky and spices overseas, from West Point to Afghanistan.
Although shipping worldwide, the small business impacts the local community in a huge way, Templeton said. They gain regular customers with their quality products and fun spirits.
“I like people. I like to talk to them and get to see people from out of town, out of the country even,” Templeton said. “It’s a nice social experience, as well as being able to make a few bucks.”
In addition to their community friendly attitude, he said Redneck Seasonings is also environmentally friendly. It makes its food organically with no GMOs and no capsaicin, a heat enhancer. All jerky and spices are produced with natural ingredients that are good for the environment.
Redneck Seasonings attends the Moscow Farmers Market annually with new flavors on their stands to showcase and sell to locals and travelers alike. With Templeton and his staff’s light-hearted spirit, their spices keep the show going and the heat tears flowing.
Demi Manglona | Guest Writer