Traverse City Record-Eagle

Life

Related Photos

  • Jan-Michael Stump

    COWPUPPIES

  • Jan-Michael Stump

    COWPUPPIES
January 25, 2010

Company sells diabetic-friendly foods

By JODEE TAYLOR

TRAVERSE CITY -- Two things have been a part of Ron Underwood's life: business and diabetes.

Underwood ran Skilled Manufacturing in Traverse City for 29 years until he sold it nine years ago.

He was diagnosed with Type I diabetes 35 years ago.

The two parts of Underwood's life have now merged.

He recently started Cowpuppie Country Products, a Web-based business that sells, among other things, diabetic-friendly food.

His own diabetes is "part of what got me going," he said, but also "once you're in business it's almost like an addiction."

He estimates 75 percent of what he sells is good for diabetics, including the pickled products -- eggs, brussels sprouts, mushrooms and more. He said the pickled products are made in Lake Ann.

"I've known the guy for years and we got to talking and he wanted to sell the business and retire," Underwood said. Underwood couldn't afford to buy an existing business as well as start Cowpuppie, so the two worked out a deal where Underwood relabels the pickled products under the Cowpuppie brand.

The salsas and spreads are also made locally and relabeled. Cowpuppie sells apple salsa, cherry salsa and "Just Awesome Salsa," along with jalapeno ketchup (an online reviewer said it was a hit at deer camp), mustard, hot sauce, dipping sauce and more.

There's also popcorn, microwave pork rinds (big seller) and fruit bars, all of which Underwood, his partner and fiancee Dianne Brown, and Brown's daughter, Kristie Brown, and her boyfriend, Jason Lowitz, have tasted and approved.

"We're not saying everything we have is for diabetics, but there are only three products that are over 6 grams of sugar," Underwood said.

Underwood hopes to move into a wholesale business by the end of January.

"We don't want to go to any large stores," he said. "We like small, specialty stores."

The food is stored and sent out from a warehouse on Cass Road and the Web site, www.cowpuppie.com, is largely maintained by Kristie Brown and Lowitz.

A 64-oz. glass jar of pickled eggs sells for $11.99; 12 ozs. of jalapeno ketchup sells for $3.99. Cowpuppie offers free shipping on orders of $40 or more and also has cow-themed clothing.

The name comes from an idea Underwood and his brother had years ago, inspired by a local country band. There's a mascot and even a costume stashed away that Underwood hopes to bring out soon.

Text Only