This week’s Farmer Focus is on junior Alondra Garcia who has a business, “Flowers by Alondra.” As a treat maker and a florist, Garcia has plans to grow her business and her menu.

SNAPSHOTS

Favorite movie: “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before”

Favorite artist: “Arctic Monkeys”

Best Snack: Fresca con crema

Worst TV show: “Squid Game”

Biggest phobia: Losing someone I love

ZOOMING IN

Q: What pushed you to pursue your business even more?

A: “My family. They are the ones who always push me and encourage me to do more.”

Q: How long have you been baking and creating bouquets before you started your business, and what made you want to start your business?

A: “I started doing bouquets a little over a year before opening an Instagram. For my bouquets and for baking, I would mess around and bake cakes for my family and then others liked it so I started selling them to friends and family first.”

Q: What challenges did you face in the beginning, and how did you overcome them?

A: “For the bouquets it was a bit of a struggle because I was very new to them. I didn’t know much, but after doing more of them, I started getting a hang of it as well for the eternal bouquets. For the cakes I wasn’t a professional, but I would keep going and trying to make them better and trying out different recipes and flavors until I got a hang of it too.”

Q: How do you come up with new bouquet designs and treat recipes?

A: “Well for the bouquets, my clients will come to me with inspiration pictures. We would agree on what things they wanted in the bouquet and what not. For the treats I would try and look for some recipes that people may like or what is popular at that time.”

Q: What bouquet design did you make that you would say was your best work?

A: “I made a Strawberry Shortcake themed bouquet, a My Melody bouquet and a Hot Wheels themed bouquet. And my recent one would be a natural red rose bouquet.”

Q: What new or upcoming bouquets or treats are you working on?

A: “I’m currently working on making new cookie flavors with my treats. For bouquets, I’m thinking about doing a natural flower bouquet or doing an eternal bouquet.” 

Q: How has being a teen business owner shaped your skills and confidence?

A:  “It’s helping me understand I can push myself and do more than what I think I can when I can actually do more.”