Author Archives | Demiliza Saramosing

Review: Rebelution, Iration, The Green and Stick Figure share island vibrations at the Cuthbert

Sunday night, reggae bands Stick Figure, The Green, Iration and Rebelution played at the Cuthbert Amphitheatre, sharing some kickback island vibrations with Eugenians.

Stick Figure was the opening act for the reggae night. Stick Figure filled the atmosphere with fun, summer loving beats as people started spilling into the amphitheater. Keyboard Player Kevin Bong’s long, brown hair bounced back and forth, feeding off the energy received from the happy-buzzed crowd. At the end of their set, the audience sent good vibes to the band by cheering them on.

Next up: The Green. They opened their set with music from an old Hawai`i Consolidated Movie Theaters trailer that triggered nostalgic feelings for Hawai`i-raised folks like myself.  Soon after, the band rocked the crowd with their song “Alone,”where more people congregated to the front to throw up shakas as they started swaying and skanking to the island beat. One of the lead Vocalist JP Kennedy pumped up the audience, “We love the country side/ we love this ocean breeze/ we love the chronic trees,” right before jamming to “Rootsie Roots”.

Next, the backdrop screen rolls up Iration’s edgy, black and white logo. The crowd greets the band with clouds of ganja smoke floating above their heads. They started off their set with their high-energy hit, “Turn Around,” urging people to come to the stage and dance. They transitioned into their next song, “Electricity,” which aroused sexual tension between the couple next to me with lyrics, “When it’s just you and me/ electricity.” At the middle of their set, lead vocalist Micah Pueschel introduced the group, “We are Iration from the 808 state of Hawai`i,” followed by the question, “Are you ready to fucking party with Iration tonight?”

Pueschel made the crowd go wild after stating, “This song is inspired by smoking weed in the summer time,” as he holds up a joint given to him from someone in the front row. They ended their set with “Falling” where the audience bobbed their heads to its slow-paced, beach-vibe tune.

The headliner band Rebelution pierced through filler electronic dance music with brass sounds from saxophonist Khris Royal and trumpet player Zach Meyerowitz. Right away, lead vocalist Eric Rachmany’s boyish, hypnotic voice fills the auditorium with the words “It’s a pleasure to meet ya” from their song “Attention Span”.  By this point, I found myself rubbing shoulders against others in the pit as people jam-packed their way towards the stage. For their next song, they slowed it down with, “Fade Away,” their alternative rock inspired sound, which I felt confused the audience after dancing to high-energy reggae music. I felt that the next song, “Good vibes” made up for that as the audience bounced to the chill rhythm while holding peace signs in the air. They ended the night strong with, “So High” where Rachmany shouts to the audience, “I know for sure that Oregon’s got the herbs when I’m dry!”

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Fetishization of women of color impacts media and society

There’s a thin line between having a preference and fetishizing in the dating world — women of color know this all too well.

Fetishization is the process where certain physical traits of women of color become objectified and hyper-sexualized to fit the dominant stereotypes.

Some stereotypes include being submissive, sexually inhibited and sexually available.

Women and gender studies professor Lynn Fujiwara talks about her own experience being fetishized in a relationship as an Asian-American woman.

“After six years of being in a relationship with someone, it finally dawned on me to ask him, ‘What about me are you attracted to?’” Fujiwara said. “He said, ‘It’s because you’re exotic.’ I was blown away and never imagined that that was what was going on through that person’s head.”

She believes that mainstream media plays a big part in perpetuating fetishization.

“I think the media is chock-full of fetishizing women of color as ‘sexually available’ or ‘sexually there’ to please,” she said. “women of color are usually perceived as the hypersexualized character or the background performance.”

She also believes that when someone is being fetishized, they’re not being viewed holistically.

“You’re reduced to one dimension of your being,” Fujiwara said. “Your presence and who you are is made for someone else’s pleasure.”

As an active member in the University of Oregon’s Multi-Ethnic Student Alliance, senior sociology major Ellen Rojc, shares how burdening it is when people fetishize those who identify as women of color or multi-ethnic.

“Fetishizing is problematic especially if there’s an individual that is romantically interested with the fact that you’re multi-ethnic or a woman of color rather than you the individual,” Rojc said. “That makes it very uncomfortable.”

Fujiwara acknowledges this discomfort and also shares how fetishization can hinder the expression of women of color sexuality.

“When women of color want to express their sexuality, they’re expected to not buy into this dominant exoticness stereotype, which doesn’t allow them to own their own sexual expression,” Fujiwara said. “That is why, there’s work now to make race-positive sexuality so women of colorFeth can claim their own sexuality.”

Jeremiah Favara, a graduate teaching fellow for the gender media and diversity course, sees himself as an ally contributing to this kind of work. He offers some advice to students going into the media field.

“Be critical about media as a consumer and producer, be open to conversations and seek out viewpoints other than your own,” Favara said. “Think about your own position and how it speaks to these differences between us.”

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A different form of racism on college campuses: Micro-aggressions

An annoyed student walks away after being called “sexy” solely based on the fact that she is multi-ethnic. An Asian-American student rolls his eyes after being asked about his ethnic origin for the umpteenth time. A black student groans after being told, “You’re pretty for a dark-skinned girl.”

These comments reflect a form of racism: micro-aggressions.

Micro-aggressions are used to describe the subtle ways that racial, ethnic, gender and other stereotypes can traumatize students at a predominately white institution.

ASUO External Vice President Patrick Kindred talks about his own experiences with micro-aggressions as a black student on campus.

“People have asked me questions like, ‘Why do you talk so white?’ and ‘Do you play football here?’” Kindred said. “These comments make me feel like I’m always fighting against this box or fighting to get out of the box.”

He’s also experienced micro-aggressions with his current ASUO position.

“When I tell people that I’m the vice president, they would ask, ‘Oh really? For the Black Student Union?’” He said. “When I tell them I’m the vice president of the student body, they say, ‘Oh, you’re a real vice president.’”

Junior ethnic studies major Laura Mejia experiences harm within the university classroom when talking about sex and gender.

“I have an intersex condition, my genetics are different than a lot of cis-gendered women,” Mejia said. “It annoys me when people try to use chromosomes to determine a person’s identity.”

These comments made her struggle with her own identity.

“Hearing those comments made me feel not legitimate,” she said. “I was doubting whether or not I could call myself a woman.”

She learned to ignore these comments but still felt that students should be mindful of what they say.

“We need to be more aware of words and how they affect the people around you,” Mejia said.

Micro-aggressions are discussed on college campuses nationwide. This has prompted student organizers to build awareness around this issue.

Senior Justin McDaniels is among the organizers who organized the recent I, Too, Am OSU campaign in response to the racist incidents that happened during spring at Oregon State University.

“The university doesn’t offer places of support,” McDaniels said. “Micro-aggressions happen every day.”

To spark discussion on the issue, they organized two actions. One was held on March 7, attracting more than 200 people across campus to write on bright colored paper about their experiences with micro-aggressions. A solidarity march followed a week later which was composed of students, faculty, staff and community members.

Although the action is done, he hopes that people will continue the conversation.

“We received lots of positive feedback,” McDaniels said. “It was good to see that our efforts were utilized by people who needed it.”

Kindred also sees the need for more discussions on micro-aggressions. He hopes that his administration can help create a more culturally competent space. However, he feels that the conversation shouldn’t stop there.

“I hate to think that because we are a multi-faceted exec of color, now it’s expected for something to change,” Kindred said. “I would hope that anyone in office can continue to help change the campus climate.”

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Cell phone use causes disengagement in the classroom

It is not unusual for lecture classes to be filled with students checking their text messages, playing games, responding to emails and updating their Facebook statuses all with the touch of their fingertips.

Lynn Fujiwara, an ethnic studies and women and gender studies professor at University of Oregon, is all too familiar with this phenomenon.

Fujiwara has a no phone or electronics policy, unless students have documented reasons for how electronic use can enhance their learning.

“Honestly, I find it completely annoying and disrespectful,” Fujiwara said. “I understand how dependent we are on our phones, but they’re putting a lot of resources into their education. Why short change yourself by not paying attention in class?”

Investigators from the lab of Larry Rosen, a psychology professor at California State University, Dominguez Hills, conducted a 15-minute experiment in which they marked down once a minute what students were doing as they did class work. The checklist included: writing on paper, texting, typing on the computer, using emails, engaging with social media and surfing the web.

They noticed that students’ “on-task behavior” started to decline at the two-minute mark as they began responding to text messages and looking at their Facebook feeds. At the end of this experiment, the students had only spent about 65 percent of their time committing to their schoolwork.

David Meyer, a psychology professor at the University of Michigan who focuses on the effects of divided attention on learning, said that the brain is not able to complete two complex tasks efficiently at the same time.

“Listening to a lecture and being on Facebook is very demanding, and each of them uses the same area of the brain, the prefrontal cortex,” Meyer said.

Although studies show that using electronics in the classroom can be detrimental to one’s learning, some UO professors have incorporated the use of cell phones to their lesson plans.

Patrick Moneyang, a UO French language instructor, is aware of the risks that come with allowing cell phone usage in the classroom, but believes that when used effectively can advance students’ learning.

Moneyang prefers students to not interrupt the class with translation questions. He would rather have students find these definitions for themselves.

“We live in the digital age and the class should be a laboratory where students experience and learn about their time,” he said. “I use PowerPoint with constant access to YouTube and other material available online.”

Although these professors prefer their students to either lose their phones or use them productively, some UO students feel that they can uphold the phone habit.

“I text in class a lot when I feel tired. A lot of people do it,” said junior Rose Leng. “It’s possible to use your phone and listen at the same time. It’s just not as good as giving your full attention to the professor.”

Although she rarely uses her phone in the classroom, junior Gabriela Saldaña also believes that students have the right to make their own choices when it comes to using phones in the classroom.

“Personally, I don’t care if other students use their phones,” she said. “If they choose to be on their phone for an entire lecture and not pay attention, that’s on them.”

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Check out Seattle Utilikilts at the Oregon Country Fair

In a mission to challenge the status quo, one Seattle man dared to set out to liberate men from their slacks. He does this with his handy-dandy — (wait for it) Utilikilts.

Steven Villegas founded the Utilikilt in Spring 2000 after leaving his union gig painting ferries and submarines. He said that creating the fashionable knee-length kilt allowed him to exercise his necessity for uniqueness.

“My greatest fear is being homogenized,” he said. “I don’t want to be just a number – I want the world to acknowledge me for who I truly am.”

Villegas sold his first kilt to someone he met in downtown Seattle which inspired him to make more. He started selling his product in small markets until he was able to open his own retail store on 620 1st Ave (at Cherry Street) in Seattle.

In the beginning, he did not see himself as an entrepreneur, but continued to press on sharing his invention with the world.

“It’s a big gamble to be self-supporting of your own craft and to fully rely on what you’re doing,” he said.

Now, Utilikilts are sold nationwide and internationally.

Steven Villegas believes that his kilts achieve three things for men: liberation, practicality and sexiness.He also believes that his kilts challenge male sexuality stereotypes.

“Some people see it as a man-dress and would see the kilts as sissy or feminine,” he said. “Real men don’t care, and that stereotype needs to die.”

Utilikilts customers are usually strong leaders in their respective fields. Customers include “The Other Half” co-hosts Mario Lopez, Dick Clark and Danny Bonaduce, and members of the Irish band Brother. Even a Seattle postman fought to get the kilts approved as an official uniform for US Postal carriers.

“These are people who are able to change themselves, change their communities and change the future,” Villegas said. “We give them an outfit to do it in so they can be acknowledged as changers.”

The Utilikilt not only enables men to be comfortable with their sexuality, but also allows for community building.

“When someone approaches a person wearing an Utilikilt, the viewer usually doesn’t know how to encapsulate that person,” he said. “The kilt throws them off.”

The kilt strikes up questions in the viewers mind:

Who is this person? Why is he doing this?

Villegas said that these questions would usually result in the viewers engaging in conversation with the wearer.

“When you see someone wearing the kilt, you don’t just see a person, you see somebody,” he said.

In the Utilikilts’ quarterly newsletter, Customer Ron Macdonald responded to their question: Have Utilikilts improved your sex life as a sexy senior citizen?

“Women who’d ignore me in jeans chat me up when I’m wearing Utilikilts. Ladies have even passed me suggestive notes at business conferences when I’m wearing a Utilikilt, with very positive results,” Macdonald said.

In another interview,  Singer and Actor Jared Philippe stated that his Utilikilt becomes a “conversation piece” among New York folks.

People would ask him, “Where would I wear such a thing?” 

His response: “Anywhere you damn well please. It’s comfortable and it’s badass.”

Kilts are usually sold for $150-600. They come in different styles, prints and fabrics, such as leather, camouflage, tuxedo and Spartan. Visit their website at www.utilikilts.com to learn more about their kilts and upcoming events.

Check out Seattle’s Utilikilts at the Oregon Country Fair this weekend, July 11-13 at booth 398.

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Saramosing: ABC Family’s sitcom ‘Fresh Off the Boat’ sheds light on Asian-American experience

Since the cancellation of ABC Family’s 1994 Korean American comedy, All-American Girl, the experience of being Asian-American has received little to no attention from mainstream media despite being one of the fastest-growing races in the nation. The upcoming ABC Family sitcom Fresh Off the Boat will finally give Asian-Americans some time in the television limelight. The series premieres this fall.

The comedy, which is based on the memoir of chef and restaurateur Eddie Huang, takes place in the 1990s and focuses on 12-year-old Huang’s experiences with culture shock after moving from Washington D.C. to Orlando, Florida with his family.

Personally, I am looking forward to seeing more Asian-American representations in our media. I grew up watching The Brady Bunch and Boy Meets World and never understood why those shows did not reflect my Filipina/Asian-American reality.

Because I did not see my own life reflected on TV, I grew up thinking that there was something wrong with me and that I wasn’t truly American. I feel that Fresh off the Boat can help young Asian-Americans navigate their lives and will lead them to stop questioning the validity of their experiences like I did with mine.

There is one thing I am skeptical of: the series’ title. The phrase “fresh off the boat” or “FOB” comes from an oppressive history and the normalization of it can trigger unwanted trauma.

University of Oregon senior Quang Truong, who emigrated from Vietnam when he was eight years old, shares his disapproval of the title. He believes it’s a negative connotation, implying that those labeled “FOB” are forever foreigners, and using it disregards its history.

“My grandparents immigrated to America by risking their lives escaping from the Vietnam War. They went to America by boat and went 30 days without eating,” he said. “I hope that the show does justice in portraying Asian-American struggles.”

After watching the trailer, he questions the comedic aspect of Fresh off the Boat and how it takes away the seriousness of the phrase’s traumatic history and the harmful effects of stereotypes.

“The trailer doesn’t reflect on the history to why these stereotypes are bad. People are going to be laughing at it without knowing the history,” he said. “I believe that they should make it funny but at the same time, thought-provoking.”

Senior cinema studies major Bryan Lau, a fifth-generation Chinese/Japanese American, is also skeptical about the series.

“I thought the title was so stereotypical,” Lau said. “But I think the name is a good way to catch an audience’s attention.”

Lau feels that since the title is based on someone else’s experiences, it’s okay for it to be used.

“You can’t really mess with the director’s experience,” Lau said. ” If that’s how he wants to portray his experience,  you can’t really help it.”

In an inteview with Buzzfeed, Huang shared his thoughts on receiving Twitter backlash for his trailer release.

“There are people in every race who try to speak for everybody and try to legislate what you can think and what you can’t think, with no understanding of what it means to interpret an experience,” he said. “It’s ‘fresh off the boat.’ That’s a term that Asians call each other and we claim it and it’s worn with pride.”

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Calendar: Oregon Bach Festival June 26- July 13

Attracting artists, patrons and students from around the globe, the annual world-renown Oregon Bach Festival seeks to “inspire the human spirit through the art of music.” The festival will be held from June 26-July 13. Check out their upcoming concerts in Eugene.

Saturday, June 28 Canadian Brass- Oregon Bach Festival Performance: Canadian Brass currently holds iconic status within the classical music realm. Silva Concert Hall- Hult Center for Performing Arts (7th Ave & Willamette St), $15 – 53, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, June 28 Oregon Bach Festival Kids- Canadian Brass: Canadian Brass has performed centuries of classical arrangements for nearly 45 years. Come hear the new generation of Bach-inspired players perform at this event. Hult Center for Performing Arts (7th Ave & Willamette St), $5, 10 – 11 a.m.

Sunday, June 29 His Majestys Sagbutts & Cornetts – Oregon Bach Festival Performance: His Majestys Sagbutts & Cornetts are among the world’s leading early instrument ensembles. With a mixture of trombone and cornett thrilling sounds, the group illustrates their theme of Love and War. Beall Concert Hall, (University of Oregon, 961 E 18th Ave), $15 – 49, 3 p.m.

Sunday, June 29 New Soundings I: Join Composers’ Symposium participants in celebrating their creative voices. This event features conductor and composer Craig Hella Johnson, founder and director of Austin choral ensemble Conspirare; the University of Oregon’s own Molly Barth and her Duo Damiana partner, Dieter Hennings; Portland ensemble Fear No Music; and ACE (American Creators Ensemble). Beall Concert Hall, (1225 University of Oregon – 17th and Alder St), $10, 7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

Sunday, June 29 PICCFest Concert-  The Pacific International Children’s Choir Festival (PICCFest), includes choirs from Canada and the United States. Hult Center for the Performing Arts (7th Ave & Willamette St), $10 – 15, 7:30 – 9:30 p.m.

Monday, June 30 Easter Oratorio- Oregon Bach Festival Discovery: With voices portraying four characters: Mary Mother of James, Mary Magdalene, Peter and Johnalongside, the Easter Oratorio brings to life Bach’s spiritual, powerful works. Soreng Theatre – Hult Center for the Performing Arts (7th Ave & Willamette St), $10 – 17, 4:30 p.m.

Monday, June 30 Paul Jacobs: Organist Paul Jacobs and trumpeter Guy Few team up to showcase their exciting musical talent. Central Lutheran Church (1857 Potter St), $30 – 39, 7:30 – 9 p.m.

Tuesday, June 1 Bach: St. Mark Passion- Oregon Bach Festival Performance: Bach’s Passion piece inspired by the gospel of St. Mark takes listeners on a mysterious, dramatic journey. Beall Concert Hall (University of Oregon, 961 E 18th Ave),  $15 – 62, 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, July 1 On the House: Plus Cheung, Marimba- Oregon Back Festival Community: Popular marimba artist Pius Cheung takes the stage to share his xylophone-playing skills. Hult Center for the Performing Arts – Lobby ( 7th Ave & Willamette St,), Free, 1 p.m.

Wednesday, July 2 Strauss Soiree I- Oregon Bach Festival Performance: This event celebrates the 150th anniversary of Richard Strauss’ birth. He is a respected Romanticist known for his innovative operas and orchestra pieces. Beall Concert Hall (University of Oregon, 961 E 18th Ave), $15 – 49, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, July 3 Jonathan Manson: Cellist Jonathan Manson combines modern and 17th century masterpieces in his performance. Beall Concert Hall(1225 University of Oregon – 17th and Alder St), $15 – 49, 7:30 – 9:30 p.m.

Thursday, July 3 On the House: Strangeland Family Youth Choral Academy Soloists- Oregon Bach Festival Community: High school-age singers of the Stangeland Family Youth Choral Academy (SFYCA) showcase their singing talents. Hult Center for the Performing Arts – Lobby (7th Ave & Willamette St), free, 1 p.m.

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Hawaii family dishes up island-style remedy

Walk up to the Every Day Kine Grindz from Hawaii food cart on 760 Chambers St. and you are greeted by a warm welcoming of “hellos” from the owners as their chubby cheeked baby waddles in his walker around tables. You hear the sound of reggae beats flowing out from iHome speakers. Your stomach growls at the sight of Loco Moco, a dish that consists of beef patties topped with eggs drenched in thick, brown gravy. While waiting for your food, “uncle” and “aunty” come outside to seat you at your table. They then “talk story” (chat), while inviting you to be a part of their family.

All throughout college, the cart’s owner Kawika Asam struggled being away from Hawaii, the place he calls home. As a freshman at the University of Oregon, he had tried to cure his homesickness through satisfying his stomach with Eugene’s version of Hawaiian food but later discovered that it “never came close to the original.”

After graduating with a degree in Sociology and Business, Asam decided to bring island cooking to the Emerald City. Asam believes that other Hawaiian food venues in Eugene “Americanize”  its menu.

“They try to replicate Hawaiian food by pouring teriyaki sauce on their dishes,” said Asam with a laugh. “That’s not what we do at home.”

Asam pays tribute to his parents for teaching him how to cook Hawaiian grindz (food) while growing up in the islands.

“Moving to Eugene was a tough decision,” said Esther while sitting Kawika’s nine-month-old son on her hip. “But family overrides everything. We left home to help our son and be closer to our grandson.”Esther, his mother, had been working in the Hawaiian Airlines industry for over 20 years while doing food catering on the side. She left her job at Aloha Air Cargo after Asam asked his parents to come to Eugene to support his food cart business.

Since the cart’s opening, the family business has had a variety of customers.

Asam’s girlfriend, Hazel Balilea, said they’re in the process of networking more within the campus community as well as the greater Eugene community to increase their customer base.

“Since we’re far away from campus, we do our best to build relationships,” Balilea said. “We’ve been interacting with community members in-person and on social media to keep them interested.”

In the future, Asam would like to own a mobile food truck so he could cater more to the university community.

“A lot of students tell us ‘we wish you were on campus so we can eat your food throughout the week,” he said.

Every Day Kine Grindz from Hawaii is open from Tuesday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. All plates are served island-style with two scoops of rice, a scoop of potato mac salad and a piece of chocolate mochi (Rice cake) for dessert. Each plate costs about $6-$10.

Asam no longer feels as homesick now that he has opened the cart.

“The cart provides a feeling of home, not only for me, but for my customers that have a connection to Hawaii,” Asam said. “I feel like we help customers with homesickness.”

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Vanilla Jill’s Frozen Yogurt provides healthy summer treats

For those of you hoping to get your frozen yogurt fix this summer, you’re in luck.

On 24th and Hilyard, you can find a charming, little yogurt cart promoting a Vanilla Jill’s sign, which is tucked near D-Mart and Sundance Natural Foods. Not only are the desserts delicious, but also nutritious and friendly to those with dietary needs.

The yogurt cart stems from Tim and Megan Stevens’ desire to “bring awareness and truth to the ability of food” to community members.

After moving up to Oregon from Southern California in 1991, Stevens and his wife wanted to bring good frozen yogurt to Eugene. Through researching the ingredients that usually went into frozen treats, they were shocked to have learned about how unhealthy they truly were.

“The more you know, the more disgusted you are with conventional farming and food production,” Stevens said. “We didn’t feel good about what went into our bodies, so we started making it.”

With Megan’s knack for learning and creating new recipes and the couple’s determination in learning how to run a business through Lane Community College’s Small Business Development Center program, the duo opened their business in spring 2010.

Vanilla Jill’s sources all of its ingredients from local companies like Organic Valley, and for savory options at its other locations, Deck Family Farms. Although sourcing can attribute to the business’ own financial struggles, they believe in serving their supportive customers healthy, quality foods.

“We find suppliers who we align with as far as how food should be raised and grown,” Stevens said. “We’ll ask them what they have and we make do out of that.”

Emilie Ely, who works as a yogurt cart server at Vanilla Jill’s, expressed her admiration for the couple’s efforts in promoting health-conscious living.

“Megan and Tim go the extra mile to finding out what make our bodies thrive,” Ely said. “It’s an honor to be representing that.”

After being served by Ely, University of Oregon student Vivian Hsieh shared her first time experience at the cart.

“I really enjoyed the Flower Berry smoothie,” Hsieh said. “It was light and refreshing.”

She intends to check out the other Vanilla Jill’s shops later this summer to try more treats from its overwhelming menu.

Vanilla Jill’s also has carts at 460 Coburg Rd. #300 and the Scoops and Soups location at 298 Blair Blvd in the Whiteaker. The Stevens’ opened their yogurt cart after acknowledging that a lot of customers were coming from south Eugene.

“Young families and women in their mid 20s to mid 30s are a huge part of our demographic,” Stevens said. “We hope to appeal more to our university students.”

The four-year old business meets the needs of sugar-free, whole milk, vegan, goat milk, peanut milk and honey lovers with its variety of flavors.

The newest dessert addition is ice cream sandwiches that will also be sold in stores later this month. It does not contain grain, sugar or dairy and is made from local honey and cashews.

“We’re pretty excited about them,” Stevens exclaimed. “There’s nothing out there like them.”

As their business expands, the Stevens’ continues to create relationships with their customers and educate them about their products.

“People are blown away by them,” Stevens said. “It’s really fun to offer things people can’t get elsewhere.”

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