Best friends, Marlon Major and Chris Graham, have been inseparable for the past couple decades. Their friendship started over 25 years ago when they met serving in the United States Air Force. Their relationship started a little rocky, but as they continued to be stationed together their bond began to blossom. Both are disabled veterans now, running a successful business called Bent Mountain Salsa, making some of the best salsa on the market. Marlon and Chris are a great team working together daily to keep the salsa coming and the business growing. However, their journey has not been easy. With a lot of hard work, determination, persistence and a great recipe, they have been able to create a household brand that is sure to continue to keep palates happy all over the country.
Bent Mountain Salsa was birthed out of a series of difficult events. Chris left a company he wasn’t happy working for, which immediately gave Marlon the idea of the two of them becoming their own boss. Two years ago in June, Marlon and Chris put legs to the idea – they bought the ingredients to start their first batch of salsa. Marlon’s recipe was a special one, a recipe he had been working on for years to tweak and perfect. His ex-mother-in-law fell in love with his salsa some years prior giving him the impetus to keep making it. With just a few dollar bills and change from the console of his car (he had forgotten his wallet), Marlon recalls shocking the cashier at the store by purchasing all the ingredients for his first prototype batch of salsa with the money he found in his car. He made salsa for Chris and his family. They fell in love with it and decided to build a business. The journey into the salsa business certainly has not been easy. They grind every day taking the product to farmers’ markets, craft shows, vendor shows and the Salem VA Medical Center, promoting it, serving samples and making sales. “At times it was tough keeping the momentum going,” says Chris. “I would get discouraged, but Marlon would always call me with encouraging words which kept me going.” As their journey continued, they derived the name of the salsa from a good friend who owns the Bent Mountain Bistro. After being “wowed” by sampling the salsa, he encouraged them to name it Bent Mountain Salsa since they lived on the mountain. It seemed like a good idea, so they went with it.
Marlon and Chris take great pride in their business and it shows. From the batches they make, to the time it takes to meticulously package it (which all is done by hand), right down to the logo. They stand behind their recipe and the consistency of their salsa, which makes it stand out from the rest. Most importantly, their salsa is always fresh. They are convinced that their salsa is “the best in America,” says Marlon. Their California-style salsa made on top of the mountain is a salsa not everyone is used to. The consistency is amazing and it is no “tomato water” like some of the other competing brands. Bent Mountain Salsa has four different levels of heat to accommodate all palates – mild, medium, hot and fire. The mild is made with jalapeños with the seeds taken out to leave a mild flavor for those who have a less spicy preference. The medium is made with serrano peppers which gives it a sweeter taste with just a little kick of heat. Then there is the hot, made with habanero peppers that certainly turn up the heat a notch or two with a smoky taste. Lastly, there is the fire combination which is made with a mix of habanero and Trinidad scorpion peppers that have an amazing taste with an explosion of heat for those who prefer the ultimate spicy experience. Each has a different, yet unique taste, but one thing remains; each salsa always is handmade fresh with absolutely no preservatives.
The hard work and effort the vets have put into their brand continues to pay off. Outside of the fact that their salsa has been exposed to over 30 different countries due to Marlon’s efforts of sharing it with his Airbnb clients during his time in Hawaii. Their salsa also has been exposed to higher ups of a couple popular grocery store chains and branding companies. They believe their salsa is so good that this brand has the potential to go global. Locally, the salsa is available:
- Salem Farmers Market
- Republic of Floyd
- Bent Mountain Mercantile
- Nature’s Outlet
- Born Southern of Charlotte
- Bent Mountain Salsa also ships to all 50 states through their social media platforms
For Chris and Marlon, it is not just about making and selling the “Best Salsa in America,” it is about giving back. Marlon wants to become a philanthropist and “pay it forward” by helping other veterans. In fact, their business is federally registered and recognized as a Serviced Disabled Veteran Owned Company. Every Friday they got to the VA Hospital where they love hearing and sharing stories with the veterans and giving and receiving hope. As disabled veterans both men can relate to the stories told by soldiers they meet there. Chris and Marlon gave a great portion of their lives proudly serving their country. They both served in Operation Desert Storm in 1998 and were stationed at many locations together. When on assignments apartment, they stayed in touch. No matter how much time or distance stood between them their brotherhood kept them close. “I have one best friend and that’s Marlon,” says Chris.
You can follow and place your orders for Bent Mountain Salsa on the following social media platforms:
Facebook: Bent Mountain Salsa
Instagram: @bentmtsalsa
Twitter: @bentmtsalsa
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