A&J Sweet Treats Proves a Safe Experience for Clarissa Burroughs
By Clyde Hughes | AC JosepH Media
WILLINGBORO – When Clarissa Burroughs started A&J Sweet Treats, she had her daughters in mind, but it had to do more with just the name of the company.
Burroughs said she and her daughters suffer from peanut allergies and creating treats that are peanut free were important to her.
The Food Allergy and Education organization said for those with such allergies, peanuts can cause a severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction anaphylaxis. Allergic reactions can be unpredictable, and even very small amounts of peanut can cause one.
“I have a peanut-free business and that was important for me,” Burroughs said. “I know I am (allergy to peanuts) and my daughters are, too. Knowing that products are peanut-free are more important to people today. I want to branch out a little more with my sweets.”
Burroughs has taken part in The Melanin Market Experience for the past three exhibitions, using the initials of her daughters, Alexis and Jasmine.
“So it’s like I have a little business for them,” Burroughs said. At The Melanin Market, she displayed sugar cookies, “baby crumbs,” and a variety of other sweets products that attracted a steady stream of customers along the stream of tents set up at Millcreek Park.
Burroughs, 30, said she knew she wanted to create sweets as a business when she was in high school. She actually took the leap of faith as an entrepreneur a couple of years ago after her daughters were born.
“I took a culinary class (in high school) and found out I liked it,” Burroughs said. “When I found out that this was my field, told myself let me branch out to this.”
She said she has been able to stand out because she has “a great presentation and everything is neat and covered,” along with great prices.
Burroughs said The Melanin Market has helped her greatly with exposure and she hopes to be able to continue to grow and expand her business.
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