Family-owned vinaigrette brand hits major milestone! Launched in late 2022, consumer demand for clean-label dressing and marinade options drive national retail expansion and new foodservice line.
MIAMI, FL — June 28, 2026 — Big Mama's Backyard Garden, the Miami-based maker of the cult-favorite Calamondin Vinaigrette, announced the sale of its 30,000th bottle since officially launching in late October 2022. The company is celebrating the milestone by bringing the brand’s namesake—the 83-years-young culinary force Lois "Big Mama" Shapiro—to New York City for the Summer Fancy Food Show, June 28–30 at the Javits Center (Booth #6212, SUSTA Pavilion). Big Mama herself will be live at the booth, alongside her family, to share her story, kitchen wisdom, and serve up unique culinary pairings.
About Big Mama's Backyard Garden Founded in Miami, Florida in October 2022, Big Mama's Backyard Garden is a family-owned company born in the backyard of Lois "Big Mama" Shapiro, who spent over four decades perfecting a calamondin citrus vinaigrette made from fresh ingredients. The company's flagship dressing is Vegan, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, and crafted with absolutely no artificial ingredients, preservatives, or added sugars. To support seed oil-conscious consumers, the clean-label line now offers an avocado oil version alongside its classic option. Featured in Edible South Florida magazine and a proud member of the Specialty Food Association, Big Mama's donates 1% of profits to The Garden Club of America. For more information, visit BigMamaFoods.com.
Founder & CEO, Ethan Shapiro, had an “aha!” moment when friends and neighbors kept coming back for the delicious dressing. “Where can I find this in a store?” was asked so many times that Shapiro knew this could be the start to a business. Selling 30,000 bottles means tens of thousands of people have now tasted a piece of Big Mama’s kitchen.
The brand's grass-roots velocity has captured extensive organic accolades, including being featured on Elevator Talk with Ray Latif on the Taste Radio Podcast, named "Best Locally Made Product" by The Florida Villager, and splashed across the front pages of local Florida news.
Fans say it is "the best salad dressing I've ever had," and verified online reviews echo the same sentiment: "I love it, I just wish it were available in more grocery stores nationwide!"
The secret to the dressing's remarkable versatility is the calamondin—a rare citrus fruit that tastes like a vibrant cross between a tangerine and a lime. Lois Shapiro has been cultivating citrus trees in her Miami backyard for decades.
Expanding to Meet Both Grocery and Foodservice Demand Big Mama's Backyard Garden is exhibiting at the Summer Fancy Food Show to secure national retail distribution and fill gaps in shelf availability. While the brand is already a top specialty seller at South-Florida independent retailers like Milam's Markets, it is rapidly scaling to meet national demand.
Simultaneously, the brand is showcasing the early success of its new 1-gallon SKU format for foodservice. Developed specifically to meet the high-volume needs of commercial kitchens, the 1-gallon format has quickly become a favorite among regional restaurants and boutique caterers looking to add an upscale, allergen-free, and memorable citrus profile to their menus.
Contact: Ethan M. Shapiro, Founder & CEO
Big Mama's Backyard Garden
[email protected] | 305-523-9495