The Job Training Coordination (JTC) Program at Memorial Options Center welcomed business-owner Ethan Holmes to their classroom today to learn about business, entrepreneurship and applesauce.
As a student in high school, Ethan became passionate about building his own business and fueled that passion by learning how to make applesauce from his grandfather. Eight years later, Ethan’s start-up applesauce business has grown to national levels where Holmes Mouthwatering applesauce can be found in Walmart, Kroger, Heinens, Whole Foods, Giant Eagle and more.
Many of the practices and principles Ethan learned while starting his business are the same skills that students in the JTC program are learning in their classroom.
After finishing their morning tasks, the students in Ms. Dolce and Ms. Norton’s classes met Ethan and learned about entrepreneurship and his path to growing his business. While discussing some goals and dreams the students have, Ethan took the students step-by-step through the applesauce production process.
After finishing his presentation, Ethan was kind enough to help the students make applesauce in their kitchen/lab.
After washing their hands and the fruits, the students learned how to peel apples and pears using an old-fashioned peeler/corer.
Once all the apples and pears were broken down, the students chopped the fruit and stocked a cooking pot with fruit and apple cider. The apples cooked while students helped Ethan and the teachers clean. After about 30 minutes of softening, the apples were blended and received a few dashes of cinnamon.
The students enjoyed their homemade applesauce alongside some soup and pizza and some of Holmes’ official Mouthwatering applesauce.