Local News: Local sister duo sees sweet success with freeze

EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. A new and unique business venture by two East Prairie sisters has everyone in the Bootheel talking about it.

Amanda Hancock and Melissa Hancock own a local freeze-dried candy and fruits business.

The business, Sugar Rush Candy Co., does not have its own store, but they are known for setting up at farmers markets, being vendors at local events and having their own space in Sikestons SEMO Workshop and Craft Mall.

We rotate every other weekend, Amanda Hancock said. We will come to the Sikeston farmers market, and then the next week we will go to the Charleston one.

Amanda Hancock explained that her sister, Melissa, has cancer, and they were seeking something to do at home that was more convenient.

This year, the Hancock sisters started creating the freeze-dried candy shortly after Easter, and it has been a big success. For their freeze-dried candy, the sisters have started a Facebook page by the same name of their business, which already has 737 followers.

Amanda Hancock discussed the technique of producing freeze-dried sweets.

Weve actually had kids come up and ask us, Can we just put candy in our freezer to make it? And, no, you cant, Hancock said. Its actually a special machine; it goes through a process where there is a vacuum chamber in there that sucks all the air out, but at the same time, it heats and cools it.

Hancock went on to say that they purchase the candy, and the candy is placed on a tray inside the machine. The tray heats up while the walls inside the machine freeze.

Most candies will take three hours, and gummies can take 12 or more hours, Amanda Hancock said.

Hancock said the most popular candies that they freeze-dry are Peach Rings, Skittles and Fruit Roll-Up Nuggets. However, they freeze-dry many more types of candies.

Amanda Hancock explained that Fruit Roll-Up nuggets are Fruit Roll-Ups divided into sections that puff up into the shape of nuggets when freeze-dried.

Now we are trying to gear toward the fall and all the candy corn coming out, said Hancock. Marshmallows also can be freeze-dried as well.

Hancock said they sell two sizes of bags. The standard bag costs $6, and the small bag is half the size of the standard bag and costs $3.

According to the Hancock sisters, what distinguishes freeze-dried candy is how drastically it transforms.

The neatest thing about it is after the candy is freeze-dried, it changes its texture and sometimes even its taste and flavor, Hancock said. Candy corn, after you freeze-dry it has more of a crunch-type texture to it, and it almost melts in your mouth.

Hancock said she never expected the candy to be such a hit in such a short period of time, and they are continually trying new things to freeze-dry to keep customers satisfied.

I dont think we have really had any candies that people havent liked, Hancock said.

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