As it sometimes happens, the idea for starting a gourmet food business came about serendipitously for the Brtek's.  A 1994 car accident that totaled the vehicle in which they were in caused the couple to re-evaluate their priorities in life.  They began to explore business opportunities that would allow them more time together and less stress.  "We wanted to start taking life less seriously," explains Tara.  The idea of a specialty food business appealed to both of them.  

    In 1995, Mark's job relocated the couple from Phoenix, Arizona to Elk Grove, California.  Tara decided to take this opportunity to explore their dream of starting a gourmet food company.  Because of her early success, Mark was able to quit his job in 1997 and become an equal partner in Singing Pig Food Co.   "Although it was a risk, it didn't take too much persuading for me to give up my pager and dress clothes," Mark admits.

    Singing Pig Food Co. offers a diverse product line for a variety of tastes.  The products are mainly from "personal-favorite recipes," Tara notes.  These include three types of salsa, three marinades, several jams, no-sugar-added fruit butters, apple pie butter, cherry pie butter, and their specialty, pumpkin pie butter.  In terms of product, "We like to be the first to offer something.  Our customers look to us for unique products," Tara says.

    Instead of opening a store, the Brtek's opted to conduct their business through mail order and by participating in weekly festivals in Northern California.  This takes them anywhere from the Fiddler's Jamboree in Shasta to the Mushroom Mardi Gras in Morgan Hill.  Anyone who has visited the Singing Pig Food Co. booth at a festival knows that the atmosphere can be summed up in one word: "fun".  "Our intention is to make each visit to our booth an experience," Mark adds.  The Brtek's offer customers the opportunity to comparison taste any of their products.  "That way they can taste the roasted garlic salsa compared to the sweet onion salsa," Tara states.  "We're dedicated to offering a customer-friendly environment.  And people know that when they come to our booth, they are going to see the same two faces each time." 

    But where did the name Singing Pig Food Co. come from?  Tara laughs, "Apparently when I was about 3 years old, I would tell anyone who asked me that I wanted to be a singing pig when I grew up.  Well, you can imagine the teasing I endured from my family over the years.  It was Mark's idea to name the company after my childhood ambition, and I reluctantly agreed.  Of course, we're both grateful for the name now."  The response has been overwhelming.  "You wouldn't believe how many jars we sell to pig collectors and hog farmers," declares Mark.  People having their picture taken next to the booth has become a regular occurrence.

    Mark and Tara look to the future with great anticipation.   "It is a privilege to work in this business daily," says Mark.   "We feel very lucky to be doing what we are doing.  Of everything we've done this has been the most rewarding and the most fun of all," states Tara.   "We've created something we can really be proud of."