Food Artisans: Matt & Tami Mullins, Newport Sea Salt
When Matt and Tami Mullins returned to Newport after being stationed in Italy with the navy, they couldn’t believe there wasn’t a locally made sea salt in the Ocean State.
After a successful home science experiment to make their own, friends and family loved it and wanted more, Matt said. Fast forward three years and they’ve got a commercial kitchen space at Hope & Main and are selling 60 to 90 pounds of sea salt each month. Because the process of making salt is weather-dependent and labor-intensive, Matt said they can’t keep up with the demand.
“Real salt has flavor from the trace minerals,” he said. “It’s a game-changer in cooking.”
The couple attribute their success to a community of connections.
“We’re all about collaborating and embracing community over competition,” Tami said. “It’s about connecting dots and finding partners to work with. It’s like the phrase ‘a rising tide lifts all boats.’ We’re all in this together.”
