Our Story

Hi, we are Lillian and Dakota Windom, the husband and wife team behind The Parched Pantry.

We specialize in freeze-dried snacks including fruits, vegetables, and candy.

As a mom, I'm always looking for convenient, yet healthy snacks for our "on-the-go" lifestyle. After trying a variety of options, our picky kids just couldn't seem to find anything they loved that didn't leave me with mom-guilt. Then we discovered freeze-dried fruit and we were hooked. Not only were they healthy and delicious, but they also offered us a portable and shelf-stable option as well. It instantly became the perfect alternative to anything in our pantry.

So when people hear freeze-dried, they think "oh, astronaut food." Which is exactly what it is. NASA developed a way for astronauts to reconstitute prepackaged bags of freezed dried meals so they werent just eating baby food every time they got hungry. The military would later adopt this method as well creating what is commonly known as MREs. Today, the appeal of freeze-drying is mainly as a means of preservation akin to canning or dehydrating. What sets freeze-drying apart is that not only are freeze-dried goods shelf stable for up to 25 years when properly packaged, they also retain 99.9% of the nutritional value over time.

In 2020 we made the decision to finally follow our dreams of homesteading and becoming self-sufficient. By the end of the year we had paid off our debts, and invested in our first freeze-dryer with the hopes of preserving the harvest from our future garden. After discovering our love and passion for the products we were making, we started sharing with friends and family. The demand began to grow and we quickly realized we could make this profitable. The Parched Pantry was born and within a month it had become both of our full-time jobs.

Today, we offer a wide variety of snacking experiences. From fruits and vegetables to pizza and candy. Each product has an intense boost in flavor and a unique texture change. For example, people with braces, implants or dentures can once again enjoy their favorite candy like saltwater taffy or even jolly ranchers.

Our small, "hands on" operation allows us to focus on quality and customer experience, setting us apart from competitors of all sizes. So whether you're blasting off to space or just going out on a hike with your family, we can't wait for you to see what's in The Pantry!