SANDPOINT — As customers wander the Farmer's Market at Sandpoint, one vendor offers them a smile and a product most people have never heard of — black garlic. 

From the bright fuchsia-pink garlic bulbs splayed across her table to the many health benefits of black garlic she can recite from memory to curious shoppers, it is evident that wellness is something Noey Richards cares deeply about. That passion has taken shape in the form of black garlic. 

Although the name suggests the same intense bitterness of regular garlic, black garlic yields a completely different flavor. Richards describes it as sweet, date-like and balsamic. 

Raw garlic becomes black garlic after it has undergone a lengthy process — one that took Richards a while to perfect. 

"You basically slowly age it for a long period of time at a very, very low temperature," said Richards. "It goes through a process called the maillard process, which is its own natural fermentation process, which bumps it up to a superfood." 

In 2024, Richards and her husband sought to leave the corporate world behind to pursue their dream of being local growers. Forgoing a 9-5 job would allow them to spend more time with their daughter, Catalina. 

"We wanted to be around Catalina and raise her in the dirt," Richards said. 

They currently lease land at the Pack River Farm, a local grower in the Selle Valley, where Richards says she finds purpose growing garlic and giving back to the community — something she has always wanted to do. 

"We have an entire section of our farm dedicated to just garlic that's going to be processed into black garlic," Richards said. 

A self-described devoted foodie, Richards had long admired local producers and growers, and aspired to be part of that niche. 

“My husband and I love to cook. It was one of the things we bonded over when we first met,” Richards said. 

When they began their garlic-growing journey, it was only a matter of time before the couple stumbled onto black garlic. 

From salt, to honey, to vinegar, Richards has since found a way to pair the superfood with a plethora of products.  

But one thought-provoking item sold at her booth has people turning their heads: black garlic brownies. 

When Richards and her husband first tried black garlic, she thought the taste resembled chocolate. So, they leveraged its unique flavor profile and got creative. 

“He’s such a good baker. I was like, ‘You’ve got to come up with something.’ And those brownies were born,” Richards recalled. 

A mix of both milk and dark chocolate, Richards describes her brownies as “very ooey-gooey.” 

"It’s not like a dry flavor at all,” Richards said. “It’s just got a unique flavor profile because of the black garlic that’s in there.” 

The unlikely pairing reflects Richards' commitment to finding enjoyable ways to consume black garlic. 

"We get super creative, and we have a lot of new products that are in the works that we’re coming up with,” Richards said. 

From customers struggling with pre-diabetes to digestive issues, Richards said the most rewarding part of what she does is helping them find relief through the superfood. 

What started as a mere dream has transformed into a local success. Today, local shops like Pepper Mercantile use Richards' black garlic honey for recipes, and loyal customers periodically return to her booth for a jar of the coveted cloves.

But Richards' fervor for wellness is almost a family tradition. She comes from a lineage of pharmacists who have always advocated for alternative options, such as plant medications or homeopathic selections to approach ailments.

And while Richards acknowledges that there are a time and place for Big Pharma, she also said the body is designed to heal itself.

While black garlic has been around in other countries for centuries, Richards said that it's unfamiliar in America.  

So, when Richards discovered the healing properties of black garlic, she had to bring it to light. 

“We just want to spread the knowledge,” Richards said. “When I’m at the farmer’s market, most people haven’t heard of it. Most people have never tried it."

Having spent part of her childhood in Sandpoint, returning to the city is especially meaningful for Richards. 

"Being a local grower in the community is such a blessing," Richards said. "The sky's the limit and I'm pumped to be able to live our dream and give back."

    Noey Richard's black garlic brownies on display at Catalina Garlic & Company's booth.
  

    A few of the items available for purchase at Catalina Garlic & Company's booth at the Sandpoint Farmers Market.
  

    Noey Richards greets customers at her booth at the Sandpoint Farmer's Market.