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Big Mama’s Backyard Garden just sold its 20,000th bottle of the tangy, addictive Calamondin Vinaigrette that South Florida can’t stop pouring on everything.
What started as “Big Mama” harvesting rare calamondin fruit from the trees in her Miami backyard—and turning them into small batches of dressing for friends and neighbors—has officially become one of the fastest-growing local products in the region. The vinaigrette is now the top specialty dressing at Milam’s Markets and was just named “Best Locally Made Product” by The Florida Villager (Nov 2025).
“This dressing is literally my mom’s backyard recipe,” says co-founder Ethan Shapiro. “Selling 20,000 bottles means more than twenty thousand people have tasted a little piece of her kitchen—and that still feels unreal.”
The secret? Calamondin—a rare citrus that tastes like it’s half tangerine and half lime, delivering bright, electric flavor in every drop. Zero preservatives, just pure ridiculous goodness. And it’s no coincidence: Food Network just named calamondin one of the biggest food trends for 2025, spotlighting its tart, zesty rise in everything from sorbets to high-end desserts.
You’ve probably seen Big Mama herself handing out samples at farmers markets, charming everyone at the Winter Fancy Food Show, or high-fiving buyers at Startup CPG events. Now the numbers are doing the talking.
To celebrate the 20,000-bottle mark, Big Mama is paying it forward with two limited-time offers:
- Retailers: Buy your first case, get the second case FREE.
- Food-service operators: Free shipping on your first one-gallon order.
Want in? Shoot an email to wholesale@bigmamafoods.com or call 305-523-9495 before these deals disappear.
About Big Mama’s Backyard Garden: Born in a real Miami backyard, Big Mama’s Backyard Garden is a family-owned company specializing in, fresh, vegan, gluten-free dressings made from garden-picked calamondins and 40 years of family recipes. The flagship Calamondin Vinaigrette captures the bright, bold taste of South Florida citrus heritage in every bottle. Featured in Edible South Florida Magazine and on the front page of the Pinecrest Tribune, Big Mama’s Backyard Garden is a proud member of the Specialty Food Association. After a standout debut at the Winter Fancy Food Show in 2025, Founder & CEO Ethan Shapiro (a graduate of the inaugural SFA Makers Prep Program) is headed back to the Specialty Food Association stage—this time at the Summer Fancy Food Show. No preservatives, no artificial anything—just flavor that makes people write love notes on Instagram.
Media Contact
Ethan Shapiro
ethan@bigmamafoods.com | 305-523-9495
bigmamafoods.com | @bigmamasfoods on Instagram





