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Meet Catie Fasano of The Elderberry Fairy & Co.

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Catie Fasano. 

Hi Catie, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Elderberry syrup has been a staple remedy in our home for many years and one that we’ve always loved sharing with family and friends. As more interest grew for our syrup in the community, we knew we wanted to continue sharing the benefits but with safety being our top priority. So in May 2020, I established The Elderberry Fairy & Co. as a way to share a holistic approach to natural healing through the magic of elderberry.

As a Registered Nurse with over a decade of healthcare experience, I’ve seen some of the sickest patients with chronic, debilitating, and life-limiting conditions. The majority of my nursing career has been devoted to hospice care, serving patients in the Downriver and Metro Detroit communities. Although hospice is a personally rewarding career for me, I feel called to help people heal naturally through the use of herbal medicine and high-quality organic nutrition. Food is, without a doubt, one of our greatest forms of medicine!
My interest in herbalism began at a young age by watching my Grandmother sift through her books on natural remedies to care for our family and creating “potions” with the herbs in her kitchen spice rack. Once I started nursing school, alternative medicine was vaguely touched on but I knew that eventually this was the direction I wanted to take my career. After the birth of my son, my passion for herbal remedies and organic living grew exponentially and has since lead me on the path of pursuing board certification as a Holistic Health & Wellness Nurse in addition to forming The Elderberry Fairy & Co.

So let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It was very challenging in the beginning when we decided to take the steps to make our business legitimate. Elderberry syrup is not considered a cottage food under the Michigan Cottage Food Law so in order for our syrups to be sold legally, we had to have them third-party lab tested by MSU Extension to ensure they were safe for consumption. Additionally, finding a commercial kitchen to produce out of was also a challenge but thankfully a local church was willing and eager to share their space with us. 

Many steps later, our products are now regulated by the FDA as herbal supplements and we adhere to Current Good Manufacturing Practices (CGMPs) 

Alright, let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
The Elderberry Fairy & Co. specializes in organic elderberry syrup, elderberry based products, and immune-supporting remedies. All of our products are made with high-quality and organic ingredients sourced from some of the top herb and spice companies in the US. We take pride in knowing that we’ve gone the extra mile to bring our customers the best locally made elderberry syrup that is both safe and effective. So, here’s what sets our syrup apart:

1) third-party lab tested by MSU Extension;

(2) we follow the guidance of a process authority to ensure pH levels, temperature, and holding times meet the standards for safe consumption;

(3) produced out of a nut-free commercial kitchen that has been inspected by our local health department;

(4) regulated by the FDA as an herbal supplement and we strictly follow Good Manufacturing Practices;

(5) member of The Elderberry Trade Association — a collective group of licensed & certified elderberry makers across the US striving to advance the elderberry industry through advocacy, education, research, and legislation.

We’re located in Lincoln Park, Michigan and offer online ordering through our website with the option for local pickup, delivery, and shipping. We also make ourselves available for “Elderberry Emergencies” for those who are sick and stuck at home.

If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Transparency is the key to running a successful business. In this business, we get to connect with customers who come to us with all types of ailments in hopes that our products will help them with XYZ. There are some instances where elderberry might not be recommended such as with autoimmune diseases. However, not every individual with an autoimmune disease will experience adverse effects from taking elderberry. We strongly encourage seeking the advice of a physician with any questions regarding medical conditions to ensure elderberry is right for you. 

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