steph at the 2004 farmer's market

John serving samples on a rainy day at the farmers market

How it Started?
In 2001, we purchased a house with an old overgrown apple tree. The following fall our tree was full of huge apples. We picked, peeled, cored and sliced buckets of apples and made pies and applesauce which we gave to all our friends. Eventually, the caramel apple tartlet was born and it was so cute, we were inspired to start a dessert business. We needed a name so one night my husband and I were out to dinner and looked on the table to find a packet of sugar. It seemed obvious that our bakery should be called "Sugar" because it was simple and sweet, and perfectly expressed our passion for pastry and of course each other (wocka wocka).

I spent the next year working as a web designer, studying baking chemistry and sampling and recombining recipes. Eventually, I developed four flavors of tarts and did a little market research to figure out who would buy our products and what they would pay for them. That was fun.

We drove to Olympia and got our business license, and Sugar started selling tarts wholesale in September 2003. In 2004, we also expanded to include hand pressed shortbread as well as petit fours, scones, and other seasonal treats. Though the things we make vary with the seasons and our moods, one thing stays the same: we are passionate about making fresh delicious desserts. I don't think anybody can complain when they're in the business of making people smile.

stephanie crocker
chef + Owner