Jasmine Auza makes a charcuterie board for every function. It’s kind of her thing.
“I love to host things,” Auza said. “I love celebrations, so I would always prepare a board.”
When Auza’s best friend got married in March, the bride-to-be asked her to make a grazing table for the wedding reception. So Auza got to work preparing ingredients and sourcing other special additions — from homemade spreads and dips to Trader Joe’s treats and fancy crackers.
“I kind of winged it,” Auza said. “I thought about the things I wanted on the board, and kept it simple based on what I would put on a smaller board. I put cheese letters on the berries that pop out. It’s all kind of free flowing, not all boards look the same.”
Building off that passion, Auza has started a small business, Fruition, which creates custom charcuterie boards and grazing tables.
Fruition has emerged along other small business owners offering a customizable service that wasn’t always available. Each board, which is made of disposable bamboo, is chock-full with different kinds of cured meats, fruits, cheeses, honey and chocolate-covered treats, delicately placed side-by-side. Many spell out a message in letters made out of gouda cheese, from “welcome baby” or “congrats, grad.”
Auza began Fruition in spring of 2023 during her final year of graduate school, where she is practicing clinical social work. She currently works in mental and behavioral health with children and their families.
Auza has grown her client base through Instagram and has made charcuterie boards and grazing tables for weddings, birthdays, girls nights and anniversaries. Business has been good, and she hopes to continue Fruition as she wraps up school.
Each board takes a few hours to create, from the grocery preparation to creating the board. A table can take a bit longer if Auza is making homemade dips and spreads for a larger group.
“When I had started Fruition, people were like, ‘You’re crazy. You already have a lot going on.’” Auza said. “And yeah, that does sound a bit crazy. But I think like when you’re passionate about something, or something that makes me feel good and grounded, that’s totally worth investing in.”
Auza accepts orders online, boards range in price and size and start at $120.
Auza says Fruition has been a place for her to channel her creativity and focus on her mental health.
“I think it just comes back to the grazing table that I made for my friend,” said Auza, who said the origins of her business came directly from her speech to the newlyweds. “So my best friend, she’s like a sister to me, and her husband is really close to my husband and friends for years. I wrote, you know, ‘I’m so happy to finally witness years of love come to fruition.’ ”
Sam Davenport is a writer residing in Anchorage. She's a leo and a plant-person, and loves spending quality time with her dog, Aspen. She is a Real Housewives fan and has been called a Bravo historian.
