Ithaca Hummus by Connie Le
The Ithaca Farmers Market, filled with vibrant and diverse vendors selling everything from fresh honeycomb to hand painted pottery, is a beloved attraction for foodies and tourists in our own college town. It is also where Chris Kirby and his team sold their first cups of fresh hummus, focusing on flavors such as lemon and dill, lemon and garlic, and smoked chipotle. Kirby’s healthy snacking alternative found its way from its little stall at the Market into other Cornell spots in 2013 like Collegetown Bagels, GreenStar, and the Ithaca Bakery. But this is no longer a local brand tucked away in various Ithacan shops. Now, Kirby’s amazing and delicious flavors can be found in major grocery stores across the country.
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Indeed, the nation-renowned Ithaca Hummus brand, which has sold thousands of tubs of garbanzo bean goodness, started right here in our little college town. Kirby began his journey in Rhode Island at Johnson and Wales University, where he earned his culinary degree. After working in the food industry, he then travelled to Ithaca to earn his bachelor’s degree in the School of Hotel Administration at Cornell. His passion to grow his hummus company led him to study the business aspects of the culinary industry while he perfected his recipes. From those first cups at the local Market, Kirby has built a successful and healthy snacking brand that can be bought from shelves in every corner of the country.
