SUGAR HILL FARMS OPENS ITS DOORS

by | Jun 22, 2018 | Local Businesses | 0 comments

Photos by Kara Kellog

A sweet spot on SR 19 is bringing smiles to Jefferson County. Brenda and Mike Hill on June 12 opened business as Sugar Valley Farms in the old Beaver Valley Store. Inside awaits what one customer described as “simple extravagance.”

“We call it simple pleasures,” said Brenda. “A Mom with kids who maynot have fat pockets that day can still afford a treat, and leave feelingbetter than when they walked in.”

That feeling will likely include a bit of a sugar lift. The Hills, and their extended family/work force have been wholesaling candies to merchants at Pike Place Market, Finnriver Orchards & Cider Garden in Chimacum, Northwest Trek Wildlife Park and Ft. Defiance Zoo, CB’s Nuts in Kingston, Sunny Farms in Sequim and elsewhere for a number a years before taking this leap into retailing.

 

Brenda Hill was inspired by her grandmother’s recipes used two generations ago at the Chevy Chase golf club on Discovery Bay. Those time-tested recipes are behind the amazing caramel (wow!), fudge, licorice, peanut brittle, and fresh pastries and pies now available at the Beaver Valley location. Espresso, hamburgers, hot dogs, sandwiches and salads—all local organic greens—are also offered.
All products, even those from other producers, are free of high-fructose corn syrup and aspartame and aspartame-derived
ingredients. “That took some doing to fill the soda cooler,” Brenda says, “but we are now stocked with colorful, yummy drinks.”

As for that work force, they are always nearby. The Hills and Brenda’s mother live right next door. Brenda and Mike’s six children and cousins, aunts, uncles, nephews and nieces all pitch in. The store is closed on Sunday for their traditional family dinner at Mom’s—with a 30-40 person extended family coming together.
Some of the family:  Malaki, Isabel, Valasiah, Beautifull, Brenda, Mike and Titus
“My daughter used to joke about wanting to just be able to walk to the Beaver Valley Store to buy something,” says Brenda. It was closed back then. But no longer. The Hills bought the property and adjoining acreage last May and spent a year in renovations.
They kept the faded “Beaver Valley Store” lettering on the façade “as a tie to the history,” says Brenda. The store has been in and out of operation for over a century.
The site has become a photo op for passing motorists. The Hills added an Old West feel to the building’s appearance. The “Jail” mock up on the side of the building has stopped quite a number of shutterbugs. And the live bunny greets anyone walking to the door.  Little bunny babies are expected any day.
The family overcame the usual hurdles between them and realizing a dream, including a scary accident suffered by one of the children just as the store was set to open.
“I realized there would always be something holding us back,” says Brenda “but I decided we were just going ahead anyway.”
In addition to sweets, the store sells coffees and décor and gift items consigned by local artists.
They see themselves as the “gateway to the Farm Tour” held each year in eastern Jefferson County and have plans to support and get involved in that event.
We got to sample a spoonful of the caramel—it was amazing. Rich, complex, hearty, but somehow not too sweet. Images of Sugar Hill’s caramel drizzled over a bowl of French Vanilla ice cream danced before our eyes.
The licorice is old school, each piece wrapped and sold separately. It is softer than mass produced and wheat-free. We left with a bag of their peanut brittle. They make it from the fabulous CB’s Nuts—which they credit with helping and encouraging them on this adventure. We also escaped with a carton of the day’s fudge selections—orange cream, peanut butter, Rocky Road, chocolate (it looked like a brownie!) and a sampling of their chocolate raisin cluster.
Before we left the parking lot, a beaming Brenda hurried outside to give us some of the delicious cherries they are selling. Sweet things from the kitchen, sweet things from trees. Sweetness working the counter and sweetness in a lovely family.
You do go away feeling so much better than when you walked in.
Sugar Hill Farms is located on S.R. 19 south of Chimacum and before the Oak Bay Road turnoff to Port Ludlow. The formal address is 2593 Beaver Valley Road. You can reach them at 360-821-2732 or at their website: sugarhillcandy.com, created by their daughter, Whitney. It really captures the joy and love of the Hill family. Hours are 10-6, except Sundays, because the whole family is around the dinner table.
Kirk Boxleitner of the PT Leader did a nice story on the family last August, when they were deep in renovation of the old country store building. You can read it here (subscription may be required).
Jim Scarantino

Jim Scarantino was the editor and founder of Port Townsend Free Press. He is happy in his new role as just a contributor writing on topics of concern to him. He spent the first 25 years of his professional life as a trial attorney, then launched an online investigative news website that broke several national stories. He is also the author of three crime novels. He resides in Jefferson County. See our "About" page for more information.

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