Elizabeth Brauer ’13 is a CEO/Co-Founder at Luumu – Finnish Delicacies + Design in Twin Cities + Greater, MN. Luumu (meaning “plum” in Finnish) is a Finnish delicacies and design business specializing in Finnish cuisine and upcycled jewelry and home decor inspired by the Finnish aesthetic. Elizabeth “Helvi” Brauer started Luumu on August 16th, 2017 with her best friend, colleague at Salolampi – Finnish Language Village of Concordia Language Villages and former camp counselor, Amy “Iida” Tervola Hultberg in a coffee shop in Perham, MN near Iida’s home in New York Mills. Frustrated to hear from so many people that they loved their Grandmothers’ Finnish foods, but “could never make them themselves,” they decided to go into business selling authentic Finnish and Finnish-American fare, as well as, offering to teach people how to make these foods. Avid believers in teaching culture through cuisine and craft, the business looks to Finland to model different perspectives on business and life. Maker-bakers and educators first and business people last, Helvi and Iida hope to grow community awareness about Finland and Finnish goods through their products. They will be participating in the FinnFest market September 22nd-24th at Orchestra Hall and will also be making and serving leipäjuusto (squeaky bread cheese) for the Euro Cocktails event at the Guthrie, September 21st in the presence of, among others, Kirsti Kauppi, Finland’s Ambassador to the United States.
Elizabeth Brauer ’13
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