Tortilleria Zepeda Brings the Flavors of Mexico to More Households Across Wisconsin through Connecting Farms to Families

After leaving Mexico to build a life together in Dane County, Julian Zepeda longed for the authentic tortillas that brought his taste of home to Wisconsin. When he couldn’t find them at a local store, he began making them on his own using nixtamalization – an ancient food preparation process that turns dried corn into masa. After perfecting their recipe at home, Tortilleria Zepeda was born in 2019. Today, the company – located in the heart of Wisconsin’s Driftless Region – uses locally grown, organic corn to handcraft delicious tortillas, chips and fresh masa.

To ensure more people have access to their healthy corn-based products, Tortilleria Zepeda participates in Hunger Task Force’s Connecting Farms to Families program. As a participating producer, it receives orders from emergency food assistance programs across Wisconsin for their organic tortillas. Once they fulfill each order, transportation partner The Wisconsin Food Hub Cooperative manages the delivery. A mix of grant funding from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) and community donations to Hunger Task Force’s Farm to Food Bank Fund are used to pay for every order received and Hunger Task Force also covers all delivery fees.

“Knowing our product is going to be enjoyed by people who otherwise couldn’t afford to purchase it at a store brings tears to our eyes. I can say that for everybody on our team because everybody deserves to eat what we’re making,” says Sabrina Pitts, co-owner of Tortilleria Zepeda.

Nixtamalized corn tortillas offer health benefits that consumers won’t receive from many processed corn tortillas in the marketplace. Soaking the grain in the alkaline water during the nixtamalization process unlocks vital nutrients and improves digestibility. Indigenous people in Mesoamerica pioneered this method of cooking corn and have passed it down through generations.

“Giving those in Wisconsin who feel so distant from home that sense of community and acceptance and belonging – I don’t think there is anything that feels better than that,” adds Sabrina. “To families living in poverty or on fixed incomes who will now be able to eat our tortillas at breakfast, lunch and dinner, we’re proud to be able to give you a taste of home.”

Tortilleria Zepeda is located in Lone Rock, Wisconsin, and uses corn from local farmers – whom the owners know personally – to strengthen Wisconsin’s local food system and stay connected to the land. 

Hunger Task Force is Wisconsin’s anti-hunger leader and Free & Local food bank. The organization’s core values are Dignity, Justice, Equity, Compassion and Stewardship. Hunger Task Force feeds people today by providing healthy and culturally appropriate food to hungry children, families and seniors in the community absolutely free of charge. Hunger Task Force also works to end future hunger by advocating for strong public policies and nutrition programs at the local, state and federal level.