From City Grind to Garlic Gold: How Schoharie County Helped Raema Build a Garlic Empire
From NYC to Schoharie County: How one entrepreneur built a thriving spice business in Upstate NY. Rockerbox Spice Co. went from a Queens apartment to Williams Sonoma—but it was Schoharie County where Raema truly flourished.
"Like a gold nugget, good spices are hard to find," Raema Frost, owner and founder of Rockerbox Spice Co. says.
Raema Frost was hand-peeling garlic in a Queens apartment after brutal shifts managing hazardous waste next to Rikers Island. She'd dehydrate it, grind it, take her creations to local food swaps. Every compliment planted a seed: Maybe I can do this.
That seed became Rockerbox Spice Co.—named after the tool used in the gold rush to sift out valuable nuggets. "Like a gold nugget, good spices are hard to find," Raema says. The woman-owned garlic and specialty spice company is now stocked in every Williams Sonoma nationwide. But it was Schoharie County that gave Raema more than a business address. It gave her roots.
Rockerbox Spice Co. is handmade in NY with multiple retailors around Schoharie County.
The Pull of Place
Raema's connection to garlic runs generations deep. Her great-grandparents immigrated from Sicily and Ireland, farmed garlic in Western New York. As a child, she'd clean garlic while the pungent scent of it drying in the barn filled her lungs. "The sweet scent of family," she calls it.
After studying astrophysics (yes, really) and pivoting to environmental science, Raema graduated into the 2008 recession. The garlic hobby became her stress relief—and eventually her calling.
When Williams Sonoma came calling in 2012, the business scaled overnight—and she needed help. Schoharie County ARC stepped in, assisting with labeling and packing. "It was fantastic working with the ARC," Raema says. "They employ adults with special needs, which brings a special set of abilities."
Those frequent drives from New York City through the mountains, hollows, and creeks changed everything. "It was so picturesque." In 2019, she made Schoharie County home.
Raema invested in her business and community.
Planting Deeper
At Green Wolf Brewing in Middleburgh, Raema met Rob. Shared passion for food and farming sparked romance, then partnership. Now they're married, co-owning the brewery while clearing trails on their 60-acre farm for a future co-op where others can grow alongside them.
But Raema didn't just move here—she invested. She co-founded the Female Entrepreneurial Alliance with Richmondville entrepreneur Michelle to support local women in business. After Michelle's passing in 2020, Raema carried forward the lessons from their friendship: "Just because you're not growing doesn't mean you're failing."
She designed logos for Middleburgh Hardware and The Ice Burgh, created brochures for the Schoharie County Beverage Trail. She researched and designed a historical sign for unmarked graves at the Middleburgh cemetery, ensuring hundreds received proper remembrance—work that earned her a nomination for SEEC's Aspire Award.
"Investing in your community is a non-negotiable," Raema says.
Admiration of her golden nugget garlic and spices at The Carrot Barn, Schoharie.
Growing Something Real
Today, Rockerbox offers over 20 products: sweet corn rub, Italian seasoning, roasted garlic dust that gives garlic "that caramelized flavor," black garlic dust, pickled garlic. Customer feedback at farmers' markets drives everything. "Don't just think of farmers' markets as a place to make money," she advises. "That's your focus group." She creates custom gift sets and wedding favors with personalized labels like "You had me at garlic."
"I am not a chef. I am not a food scientist. I just had a dehydrator and knew how to use it," Raema says. "The food itself is the star of the show."
Thanks to Schoharie County's resources—from ARC's support to the network of entrepreneurs and neighbors who became collaborators—Rockerbox keeps thriving. "I feel like Schoharie County has been my home for nine years, but it's only been six full years," she says.
The county gave her more than a place to live. It gave her the resources, connections, and community to grow roots deep enough to weather any season.
Try Rockerbox: rockerboxgarlic.com | Use code "heyneighbor" for 20% off
Congratulations to newlyweds Raema and Rob—and thank you for helping bring Root Access to life as part of our focus group at Wayward Lane Brewing. Your insights helped shape this platform.
Root Access is your guide to life, work, and community in Schoharie County. Building something here? Comment below!
