CLUB Crops, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Cleveland farm program, has produced its own hot sauce in collaboration with Lyndhurst-based Pope’s Kitchen.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Cleveland’s Local Hotness sauce was produced by Pope’s Kitchen with produce grown by teens at BGCC’s farm, which is located on Broadway Avenue. The sauce is made of four varieties of peppers grown at the farm combined with tomato, garlic, vinegar and onion to round out the flavor and balance the heat.
Farm teens planted, tended, harvested and sorted the peppers themselves. The bottles have Boys & Girls Clubs of Cleveland’s own branded label, story panel and even an exclusive barcode.
It is now available at $6.00 per bottle, with all proceeds going back to the farm program. It is available at Saucisson in Slavic Village and is expected to be on the shelves in other local stores. You can also order by contacting Farm Manager Alys Virzi at avirzi@clevekids.org or (216) 883-2106 Ext. 252. Sample bottles are available to restaurants interested in offering the sauce at tables.
Virzi said the farm program worked with Clark Pope of Pope’s Kitchen, which uses local produce when possible. “We have been selling our produce for several years, but this is our first branded product,” Virzi said. “The teens are really proud of the sauce, and we think people will love the story behind it.”
Boys & Girls Clubs of Cleveland provides safe, fun places for kids after school and served more than 7,000 youth last year. Boys & Girls Clubs of Cleveland focuses on academic success, healthy lifestyles and character development.
