HARRISTON – It’s not just good for you.
‘Graham’s Granola’ has a nice ring to it too.
Starting his own business in 2022, 11-year-old Graham Blahut from Harriston, sells his own granola, homemade from a very special family recipe.
“Graham’s Granola, it’s just nice and catchy,” Blahut said. “And my granola is really good for you. It’s all natural. We have lots of good healthy ingredients like local honey and maple syrup.”
Graham's Granola also contains large flake whole grain oats, raw almonds or pecans, coconut oil, cinnamon and vanilla.
“I make it all myself. I love to put it on yogurt with some berries. My sister likes to make a trail mix with some marshmallows and cranberries. Sometimes, I will put it on ice cream with some maple syrup too,” Blahut said.
This summer, people can try Blahut’s granola at the farmers' market in Palmerston as well as at other special events.
“It’s going really well so far this year. We’ve already done about three markets. We go to the Palmerston market, and we have done some farther in Kitchener and Goderich,” Blahut said.
“I’m starting to get people coming back saying that the granola was so good. It’s nice to have return customers. I haven’t heard one bad thing yet.”
The Grade 6 student at Minto-Clifford Public School has received support to operate Graham’s Granola in 2021, 2022 and 2023 through the Saugeen Connects Student Start-Up Program.
Blahut’s mother, Heather, said her son is encouraged to see return customers.
“We’ve had wonderful support from the town of Minto, and Graham has been able to do this every summer through the Saugeen Connects Student Start-up Program,” Heather said.
“That’s been a big driver for him in being engaged and learning business and communication skills. Just being a part of that program with other children and youth, has been really encouraging for him.”
Blahut developed an entrepreneurial streak from a young age.
“I started doing little side hustles when I was little, like when I was five or six, making lemonade outside our house,” Blahut said.
“I used to run a delivery business. But I wanted to transition to more of a product, than a service. So, I ran around looking and thinking about what foods or products I could make.”
And that’s when the idea for Graham’s Granola came to be.
“The money is a big part of it. But I love making food and eating it. It’s always fun to be in the kitchen and making granola. It’s fun to work with my hands,” Blahut said.
“I’ve done a speech about my business. My friends sometimes want to work with me. I think I had about 15-20 people come over and ask if they could come and join me.”
Since starting his granola business venture, Blahut said he has learned to handle money a lot better.
“The other day in math class, we had a worksheet to figure out. And I just blew through it. I surprised myself. I just saw how much that really paid off,” he said.
When it comes to communication, Blahut said he still sees these skills grow with Graham’s Granola.
“I‘ve always been an excellent communicator, ever since I was young. I have seen my communication skills improve though, just out there and talking to people all the time,” Blahut said.
“I think it’s awesome that I have that talent, that I can just walk up and talk to random people without any nerves.”
When not in school and not making granola, Blahut enjoys performing in plays. In the winter months, he plays hockey as a goaltender.
“In the summer, I do goalie camps, and I play baseball,” he said.
Graham's Granola is available at the Minto Farmers' Market in Palmerston on select dates this summer, as well as at other special events.
People can pre-order here to reserve granola for pickup at the market, or for delivery.
“He’s a special kid. I know all moms say that, but he truly is my renaissance kid. He’s into so many different things and just whatever he does, he does it with his whole heart and with all of this enthusiasm,” Heather said.
“He does not have future plans, but he does love to be in the kitchen and experimenting, so I can see him taking the chef’s path.”
Blahut hopes to continue to share his love of making and selling granola, but while staying true to his family recipe.
“We are raisin free,” he said. “Raisins in granola? That just does not add up for me.”
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