Sugarbuzz Makes Saturday Market Sweeter

Eating dessert is a stress reliever for some, but baking dessert is how Ron James clears his mind. In addition to his full-time job, James spends 20 hours a week baking for Sugarbuzz Dezert Company, his special order business. James recently brought Sugarbuzz to the Saturday Downtown Farmers Curb Market.

“I needed a stress relief,” said creator Ron James. “Baking to me is a balance between using your right and left brain. The measuring, baking is all about logistics and precise measurements. Once it is out of the oven, the decorating and even coming up with different flavor combinations is the creative part.”
A native of Winter Haven, James now lives in Orlando. Last year James attended a course at the San Fransico Baking Institute to refine his skills, and SugarBuzz Dezert Company was born.

He and co-owner Walt Parks both have full time jobs, but if they find the right location, will open a storefront within the year. For now they churn out the desserts from a commercial kitchen in Orlando. All orders are carefully crafted and baked fresh using real butter, cream and premium chocolates.

“After retirement, we’d like to open a dessert cafe,” said James. “ I envision a community, home style place with long tables, comfortable lounging chairs almost like a living room dining room environment, with plated or desserts to take away. A place to hang out, have a slice of cake, pie or cheesecake with coffee or even a wine pairing, before or after the theater, or movie.”

Sugarbuzz began vending their creations at the Sunday market in Celebration in July 2011. That’s where they were spotted by another Downtown Farmers Curb Market vendor.

“We were recruited by the Poor Porker,” explained James. “They convinced us to come, and we joined Lakeland’s Saturday market in February of this year.”
“There’s more community here (in Lakeland),” explained James. “Celebration has so many tourists. You never see those customers again.”
“They represent delicious sophistication,” said Jim Luna, Manager of the Curb Market. “They are very professional and add to the overall experience of the market.”

Some of their most popular items are the key lime pie and turtle cheese cake. They plan to add more seasonal cheese cakes to the menu including strawberry and blueberry in the summer. The Lakeland market has been good to them so far, providing repeat customers and many likes on Facebook.