Hey There!
Dawn Ferguson, Owner
Rising Sun Artisan Foods
I am a 40’s wife and Mom of twin adult boys who has always had a passion for bringing people together through gatherings and food. I am a creative soul, with a love for cooking, planning and organizing. I love trying new restaurants, traveling, boating, and being outdoors. I have a Business Management degree, with a Marketing minor. I have taught college-level classes in the past, and have always enjoyed instructing and guiding others. I am a natural-born leader who never meets a stranger. I am a simpleton at heart. My previous career roles include Banking, Real Estate, Marketing, and Teaching. My food business allows me to combine all the things I love, while serving others.
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During the pandemic, I teamed up with a friend to create an online Facebook community (Healthy From Home) to help others cook healthy meals from home through online videos and recipes. Many parents found themselves at home with children needing three meals a day, and just weren't sure where to start. (remove lunch at school, grabbing dinner, sports functions, etc.) This community grew very quickly and became a positive source for many. I used my hand-crafted seasonings and sauces in many of the videos, which sparked interest in me creating these for others to use in their home. Thus, Rising Sun Artisan Foods was born in 2020. I will forever be proud of myself for starting a successful business during a pandemic. I used lemons to make lemonade, and have never looked back.
Rising Sun Artisan Foods’ mission is to create gluten-free seasonings and whole food short-cut ingredients to make healthy meals that are less time consuming. We vow to always use “ingredients as pure as the SUN”, while never skimping on quality.
I have a personal stake in eating healthy, as I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2015. The years following my diagnosis, I immediately moved to a gluten-free diet. I then began a journey to meet with naturopaths, integrative doctors, authors, health coaches, dieticians, and fitness experts. I also researched diet, nutrition, overall health, our cells, genetic mutations, hormones, insulin resistance, and overall longevity of life. My research prompted me to move to a whole-food diet, with as little sugar as possible. I carried this approach forward to my business, as everything I create, sell, and serve is gluten-free.
Rising Sun Artisan Foods’ mission is to create gluten-free seasonings and whole food short-cut ingredients to make healthy meals that are less time consuming. We vow to always use “ingredients as pure as the SUN”, while never skimping on quality. Our passion extends into education through teaching our customers how to read food labels, meal, plan, store food, grocery shop on a budget, and create recipes. In 2024, we launched Cooking Classes that quickly became a success. Our future plans include one-on-one cooking classes and meal prep days.