Vanessa and Casey White founded Jaju Pierogi in 2016. Sixty years before, their Jaju (dziadziu, or grandfather) started a Polish food business with his siblings in Western Massachusetts where they hand crafted pierogi, golabki, and kielbasa for their community. So, growing up, pierogies were always in Vanessa and Casey’s freezer. The sisters found themselves spending their weekends cutting, stuffing, and sealing pierogi in the back kitchen alongside their elders. With so many wonderful pierogis available at home, it was easy to take them for granted.
When Vanessa and Casey moved to Boston for school and work, they realized that pierogi were hard to find in many areas of the country and began to anxiously await their mom’s deliveries from the family store. Friends and roommates who tried the handmade pierogi started asking, “Hey, where did you get those?” and the idea of making and selling pierogies in Boston was born. Inspired by their grandfather’s legacy, they dusted off his recipes and got to work. They started selling pierogi at local farmer’s markets and now, six years later, Jaju Pierogi distributes down the Eastern Seaboard.
Vanessa and Casey’s business has grown, but you will still find them on the road, sampling at events and stores. Taking a cue from their grandfather, who loved creating relationships with customers and making people smile, one of their favorite parts about their business is carrying on his legacy and sharing that same enthusiasm for both business and personal connection.
Find out more about Jaju Pierogi here: jajupierogi.com/about