STATE COLLEGE — Brazilian Munchies LLC, known for offering its fare at local farmers’ markets, recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new food truck.
Flavia Barger, co-owner of Brazilian Munchies, said purchasing the food truck was a dream come true.
“We’re delighted to open this event to the entire community,” Barger said. “Our food truck dream was made possible by our friends and supporters throughout the Central Pennsylvania area, who always believed in the Brazilian Munchies potential.”
Barger and her husband, Nick, founded Brazilian Munchies in 2013 when they began selling their Brazilian cuisine at farmers’ markets. As a newcomer to the United States, Barger used the opportunity to practice her English and meet people in the State College community. The couple eventually expanded the Brazilian Munchies menu and invested in Brazilian manufacturing equipment.
Four years later, the couple created a limited liability corporation and added a partner, Yama Castilho, to the endeavor. Castilho will help expand the business to festivals and large office complexes in the region.
“We’re happy to introduce the Brazilian Munchies food truck to the community and those who helped bring this project to fruition,” Castilho said.
Jennifer Riden, business consultant with the Penn State Small Business Development Center, assisted the Bargers while they were working to expand Brazilian Munchies and purchase the food truck.
“When I began working with Flavia and Yama a little over a year ago, the food truck was just an idea,” Riden said. “After giving them direction to start gathering information, and then to see their idea turn into a business, is very rewarding.”
The Brazilian Munchies food truck will be at the Videon parking lot every Monday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Other lunchtime locations are Innovation Park, Tractor Supply at Benner Pike and the Match Factory parking lot in Bellefonte.
For more information, visit www.brazilianmunchies.net.
