Lena and Juan are the creative minds and lovely couple behind Salsas del Barrio.
True to their name, they imbue their entrepreneurial effort with neighborhood charm: the warmth of how they first connected around a love of Mexican cuisine, the smoky heat of peppers toasted with care, labels that they thoughtfully apply to each jar by hand.
From a community kitchen in the St. John's neighborhood of Portland, they create their unique spin salsa macha, which has become a huge hit at farmer's markets and street fairs all around the city.
True to the philosophy behind human centric media production, it isn't just the flavors that make their product special (nor the fact that you can put their salsa on just about anything) — it's the spirit of Lena and Juan themselves. They're connective, passionate and thoughtful people. It comes through in their salsa, and these photographs.
Each time I produce a set of commercial photos, I look for that passion. The family story, passed-down recipe, the intentionally selected ingredients.
It's what takes a small business from a dream to a reality.
