Valerie Gordon, a passionate culinary artisan, enriches her home and professional kitchen with Lettuce Grow Farmstands and Gardena’s GripCut shears. She finds joy in growing fresh ingredients, incorporating them into her confections, and inspiring others to embrace quality, sustainability, and the joy of cooking.

With Valerie as your guide, you’ll join thousands of Farmstand growers in crafting memorable dishes using Farmstand-fresh ingredients ingredients, from

to

and

.

One that comes to mind very clearly is the strawberry shortcake my mom made for my second birthday. I remember that really well."

"The key tradition in my family was sourcing quality ingredients. We went to farmers markets in the 1970s and sourced everything weekly. My mom, who is Chinese, cooked traditional Chinese food at home. We avoided fast food and always had fresh, whole meals. This philosophy of fresh, quality ingredients has deeply influenced how I approach food."

“I started baking at eight years old as a latchkey kid, finding joy and comfort in the kitchen. In my early 20s, I worked in restaurants and fell in love with the food industry. Moving to Los Angeles in 1998, I managed Les Deux Café and learned a lot about creativity and ingenuity. After the café closed in 2003, I launched Valerie Confections in 2004 with my husband. We started with a box of six flavors of toffee, which we still sell today, focusing on luxury presentation and quality.”

"Our mission is to create memorable moments through delicious food. Whether it's receiving a box of chocolates or dining at our café, I want people to feel joy and satisfaction. Well-made food can change your day and improve your life."

"I struggled with traditional gardening due to critters and lack of space. Lettuce Grow transformed this for me, allowing us to grow food efficiently at our facility and at home. The Farmstand has been essential for staff meals and decorations, and it involves my kids in the process, making them more connected to their food."

"The rapid growth of plants is astonishing. The Farmstand requires little maintenance but offers great rewards, including a soothing waterfall-like sound. The grow lights allow for year-round growing, which is liberating."

"Tools are everything. Good knives, cutting boards, and microplanes are essential. Proper tools make cooking enjoyable and effective."

"The Gardena GripCut is genius, especially for delicate edible flowers. It’s satisfying to use and protects the produce. I use herbs as an ingredient, not just a topping, and the GripCut makes harvesting and using herbs effortless."

“We adopt a no-waste philosophy, using every part of the produce. This practice reduces food costs, helps the environment, and makes cooking more creative and fun.”

"Sustainability is gaining more attention, especially in California due to water concerns. The vertical hydroponic system of Lettuce Grow saves water and supports local produce. I encourage other businesses to adopt Farmstands for staff nutrition and engagement."