Treasured Gizmos offers tasty, freeze-dried treats
By Jill Alexander
Brigitte Ali has worn many hats in life, and she loved them all. But her latest venture – creating freeze-dried snacks – just might be her favorite.
Widowed at 48, Ali was a substitute teacher and co-owned a burger restaurant with her husband, Amar, who passed away from a heart attack in 2019.
“I was a stay-at-home mom, a substitute teacher at my kids’ elementary school, and I hosted ‘sip and paint’ events for adults, kids and corporate parties. Then my world froze when Amar died,” she said.
Ali suddenly had to figure out who she was outside of being a wife and mother.
“I loved the restaurant and taking care of people, so I started doing ‘sip and paint’ again,” she said. “I added charcuterie boards, and people loved them. Then they suggested I try freeze-dried fruit and candy as a business.”
So, in 2022, Ali launched Treasured Gizmos, now a staple at the Scripps Ranch Farmer’s Market on Thursdays. During the week, she stays busy at other markets, whipping up freeze-dried treats ranging from Milk Duds and grapes to Skittles.
Her freeze-dried snacks are made using sterile, commercial-grade machinery that locks in nutrients, natural sugars and vitamins – without the leathery texture of traditional dried fruit.
“The taste is so powerful. It’s a pop of flavor,” she said. “Nothing is sacrificed. They’re the perfect snack – nutritious, mess-free and great for gym bags, diaper bags or road trips.”
All of Ali’s products are USDA-approved and guaranteed fresh.
Born in South America, Ali became a U.S. citizen at 16 and lived in Pennsylvania before attending college in Chicago to study acting.
“I decided acting wasn’t for me,” she said.
She later attended surgical tech school and worked in an operating room for a year, but when her father got sick, she moved with her parents to California. After his passing, she settled in San Diego while her mother relocated to Florida.
Ali loves being part of the Scripps Ranch Farmer’s Market.
“It feels like family, and I’ve started getting repeat customers,” she said.
She offers free samples because “I don’t believe in making people buy something they’ve never tried.”
Her best-selling fruits include pineapple, mango and grapes, while her top candy choices are caramel M&Ms, saltwater taffy and Skittles. To maintain freshness, each airtight bag costs $7 for 1 to 2 ounces.
Ali dreams of seeing her products in stores one day but has no plans to leave farmer’s markets anytime soon.
“I love my job and watching people’s faces light up when they try my freeze-dried treats,” she said. “It’s an amazing experience. I won’t give that up.”
Visit the Treasured Gizmos booth at the Scripps Ranch Farmer’s Market, held every Thursday from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. at 10045 Carroll Canyon Road.