Mike
A loan of $11,000 helps a local Durango snack company meet growing demand with dehydrators and bulk inventory.
Mike's story
My name is Mike. I grew up an overweight kid who loved food and learned the hard way how much snacks shape how we feel. Years later, as a personal trainer in Creede, CO, I started making a clean, craveable kale chip for my clients and their families using simple ingredients and big flavor with no junk.
Word spread, and I decided to turn the recipes into my own business so more families could have a snack that tastes fun and supports an active life. I joined the Denver farmers' market circuit, and our chips got recognized at the Denver Metro SBDC Trout Tank. I refined the recipes and process, then the pandemic upended my primary method of distribution, so I paused the business.
In 2024, I re-started Mighty Mike's Foods in Durango, Colorado, with a clear mission to make vegetables craveable at scale and to power everyday adventure. Today, we sell through local retailers, our online store, and the Durango Farmers Market. Our snacks are oil-free with no added sugar, and we upcycle chip crumbs and small pieces into seasonings and mixes to cut waste.