Frivolous Fruit Small Local Business Relief

We are Alan and Charlie of Frivolous Fruit Products, and we are reaching out to share our story and humbly ask for financial relief for our small business.

Since 2009 we have been locally producing artisan jams and nut butters in Gulfport, FL, where we live and work. We bring our products to the community each week by participating in local markets around the region. We are proud to be a part of the Tampa Bay Markets vendor family.

Most of our market customers know us not only for the variety of delicious products we make but for the songs that I, Alan, love to sing at our stand! I’ve always had a passion for singing and I love to bring smiles to people's faces every week.

Recently, a health crisis struck Charlie while we were working at a market. It changed everything in an instant. The impact has been unimaginable from a health and financial perspective. The smiles may have waned for a moment, but we believe in the power of kindness. Will you help us get back on track? #SmallBusinessRelief

Our History:

Our unique business started when we had our Interior Design store in South Tampa where we used to sell our neighbor Brad’s strawberries from his farm in Wimauma, FL at the front of the store. They were the most delicious strawberries! At the end of the season, he and his cousins would all make jam. One day we took an interest in learning the process and he and his family took us under their wing and showed us the ropes the old-fashioned way. Now, over 13 years later here we are with 29 flavors of artisan jam and 5 nut butter flavors.

Charlie and I participate each week at the Tuesday Gulfport Market, the Dunedin Downtown Market on Fridays and Saturdays, the Fresh Market at Hyde Park Village, and we were long-time vendors of the Corey Avenue Market for 9 years.

Our Crisis:

On Sunday, November 5th, 2023 our livelihood of producing and selling our local products became much more complicated. We were vending at the Hyde Park Market. We set up our booth and Charlie went out to grab a sandwich before the busy hours began and fell into an incredible seizure. A woman a.k.a his angel, whom we never got to meet was getting ready to buy some jam when she saw him seize up. She just so happened to be a nurse! She went to him, tried to find a pulse, and couldn’t. She began chest compressions, rolled him to his side and he came to. His angel then left and we will never forget the incredible gift of life and love she gave to him. We can never repay her for such an act of kindness.

The EMTs arrived shortly after and took Charlie to the ER where he had tests done for 3 days. After an MRI, blood tests, and neurological scans the doctors still don’t know what could have caused this to happen. It was not his diabetes or a stroke. Now, Charlie is home with strict doctor's orders to take it easy, rest, and eat healthy. He has been told not to drive for 6+ weeks.

Charlie is 71 years old this December and I am 73. Charlie is the cook and I am the prep guy. We both can the products, label them, and box them for the day of market sales.

Unfortunately, the idea that Charlie can continue to make the jams on a full-time basis is no longer sustainable for us, and with the main market season just kicking off and our bills from the slow summer sales still piled up we are in need of some serious help.

Our Hope:

We have always been the ones to help others and I can’t believe that it’s now our turn to be humble enough to ask for ourselves. In order for us to continue doing what we love and to keep our bills paid we need to restructure our business a bit.

We are exploring the option of hiring help and possibly reducing the amount of products we make and sell. Meanwhile, we are limited as to how much we can produce and how many markets we can attend. We are a team and love what we do. We want to continue our contribution to the community again as we get healthier and stronger.

We are asking our customers, friends, and family for any donation they are willing to give to support us and our small business. This is no easy ask for us, but we are grateful for any amount that you are willing to give.

We appreciate your consideration and support you have for us during this time.

Gratefully, Alan Feivelson and Charles Cox.

#SmallBusinessRelief