Char Barrie has achieved distinction as the owner of Char’s Kitchen, where, since 1995, she has cultivated expertise as an award-winning producer of homemade jams, salsas, syrups, jellies, pickles and gift baskets. Leveraging her own licensed kitchen and products from her husband’s garden, Ms. Barrie boasts a variety of delectable flavors, such as chokecherry, raspberry rhubarb, elderberry and strawberry rhubarb, among many others. Additionally, she has developed seasonal items in addition to her standard repertoire, such as a Christmas flavor comprised of cranberries, oranges, blueberries, strawberries and raspberries. Ms. Barrie’s products are sold through her online store, as well as by several retailers across South Dakota, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, North Dakota, Tennessee and Washington. She also offers her products at various food and craft fairs.
Possessing a food service license from the South Dakota Department of Health and a ServSafe certification from the National Restaurant Association, Ms. Barrie is noteworthy for the volume of product she creates, having utilized 10,000 mason jars each season, as well as 2,000 pounds of sugar, 1,000 pounds of apples and three spacious freezers where she stores much of her fruit. Having commenced her business as an answer to a personal request for a Christmas gift from her oldest daughter, Ms. Barrie is exceptionally proud to have amassed success in her industry, keeping her kitchen in business for 30 years.
As a testament to her success, Ms. Barrie has received numerous accolades, most recently being featured in South Dakota Magazine, which spotlighted her and her business in 2023. She was also highlighted with a front-page article in The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead in 2022, which discussed her quaint beginnings with Char’s Kitchen, leading to the fame she is recognized for today. Selected for inclusion in Forbes magazine in 2023, as well, Ms. Barrie was honored with the Diamond Award from Carrington Publishers in 2022 and the Pinnacle Professional Membership Award from Continental Who’s Who in 2021. Notably, Ms. Barrie’s legacy was documented in Millennium Magazine by Marquis Who’s Who in 2021, among a myriad of other awards and recognitions.
Adjacent to her primary career endeavors, Ms. Barrie has volunteered with Just Beecuz Floral in Doland since 2017, as well as served as a volunteer and donor with St. Joseph’s Catholic Church since 2022. Civically engaged in her community, she was the membership chairperson of the Conde chapter of the American Legion from 2000 to 2010, who also recognized her as the chapter president from 2012 to 2014. Furthermore, Ms. Barrie was recognized as a lifetime board member of Veterans of Foreign Wars in 1998, and she maintains professional alignment with the International Association of Women.
In the coming years, Ms. Barrie endeavors to ease into retirement but may still wish to craft her award-winning products on a personalized basis. Married to her husband Rolland for more than 30 years, they share six daughters, 11 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
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