G's Delights founders, mother-daughter team Michele and Raelynn Grogan, recently welcomed Congresswoman Sarah McBride, Rep. Claire Snyder-Hall and Bryon Short, McBride's state director, to their small family business in Lewes.

The guests listened to the Grogans' story and experienced firsthand how they are working to support local agriculture, reduce food waste and create healthy foods for the community through G's Delights, founded in 2023.

While serving on the Delaware Department of Agriculture's Farm to Food Policy Board a few years ago, Raelynn learned from farmers and agricultural leaders that an estimated 40% of produce can go to waste for reasons ranging from cosmetic imperfections and surplus harvests to limited market opportunities. Those conversations led her to explore ways to create more value for local farms while keeping more healthy, locally grown food in area communities.

That quest became the foundation of G's Delights. After nearly two years of research, recipe development, licensing, regulatory approvals and construction of a small production facility in Lewes, the business officially launched to the public in June 2025 with a mission to transform surplus local produce into nutritious, shelf-stable products that can be enjoyed year-round.

"While our public journey is only a little over a year old, we've been humbled by the support of our community and our farming partners," said Michele. "In that time, we've partnered with 21 local farms across Delaware and Maryland, rescued nearly 3,000 pounds of locally grown produce, and developed 100 different products. From healthy snacks and drink infusions to ingredients for bakeries, breweries, restaurants and retailers, every product begins with a local harvest and a commitment to making sure good food doesn't go to waste."

One of the things that makes G's Delights unique is that the Grogans don't decide what products they will make – the farms do.

"Every week is different. The harvest determines what's next," said Raelynn. "If a farmer has an abundance of peaches, tomatoes, sweet corn, berries, asparagus, broccoli, herbs, edible flowers, or another crop, we see opportunity instead of excess. That means our customers are always discovering something new, while we get to embrace the creativity that comes with working alongside the seasons. We believe that's one of the most rewarding parts of supporting local agriculture."

Every product is carefully washed, prepared, freeze-dried, packaged, labeled and documented by hand by the two-person team in Lewes. "Being intentionally small-batch allows us to stay flexible, respond quickly to farmers' needs and create products inspired by each week's harvest," said Michele.

During their visit to G's Delights, McBride, Snyder-Hall and Short toured the production space, learned about the freeze-drying process from start to finish, helped load one of the freeze dryers, sampled a variety of products and engaged in thoughtful conversations about entrepreneurship, food innovation, agriculture and the future of Delaware's food system.

"We also shared our vision for FarmFlow DE, a business-to-business marketplace designed to help connect farmers directly with wholesale buyers before surplus becomes food waste," said Raelynn. "Building on the relationships we've established through G's Delights, our goal is to create new revenue opportunities for farmers while strengthening Delaware's local food economy through technology."

As G's Delights continues to grow, the Grogans said their focus remains on scaling thoughtfully, supporting more local farms, rescuing more produce, expanding access to healthy, locally grown foods and creating lasting opportunities for Delaware agriculture.

"We extend our heartfelt thanks to Congresswoman Sarah McBride, Rep. Claire Snyder-Hall and Bryon Short for taking the time to visit, ask thoughtful questions and experience our work firsthand," said Michele. "Their willingness to learn about our mission and engage with Delaware's agricultural community made the day one we'll never forget."