Beth Denton & Michele Gazzolo

Meet Beth Denton and Michele Gazzolo, owners of Fruitbelt.  Originally from Sawyer, Michigan, Fruitbelt started in 2014 and is now produced in Hudsonville, Michigan, just south of Grand Rapids.  Beth and Michele both wanted to create a beverage that truly represented the fruit and botanicals here in Michigan from farms and orchards; a beverage perfect for people of all ages with complex flavors that is healthy and delicious. 

Fruitbelt Tart Sparking Tonic collaborates with fruit growers throughout Michigan to course the best tart fruit and encourage the re-introduction of ‘forgotten’ crops to their fruit-growing landscape.  In fusing a variety of ‘orchard botanicals’ into their bitters, they honor the visible and non-visible processes and species who sustain and enliven the orchard.

Lots of research, taste testing, and production testing was done to not only make sure the ingredients blended well together but to make sure they were all ingredients that could be soured regionally. The two ladies had plenty of long nights spent experimenting! So many beverages these days use artificial flavors or sugars. Beth and Michele wanted to make their blends special and unique while providing a positive experience with every sip.  Some of those forgotten crops they use:cCherry bark, ginger, aronia berries, chicory root, dandelion, elderflowers just to name a few.  Beth & Michele’s current three flavors are cherry ginger, elderflower, and apple dandelion. 

Fruitbelt plans to work with local farms, cafes, restaurants, and other unique places to offer their Michigan fruit tonics to everyone across the Midwest. They have a store mapper on their website that shows where you can find their products near you!

Fruitbelt Tart Sparkling Tonics are delicious when mixed but can also be enjoyed over ice!  They are proud to be is woman-owned and zero-proof with no preservatives!

IG: @fruitbelt
Website: www.fruitbelt.com
Email: austin@fruitbelt.com