INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Each Saturday morning, we highlight another local business across Indiana. This week, as part of the Indiana Grown series, we highlight Willow Creek Acres.
Willow Creek Acres is bringing a spicy piece of Scott County history to tables across Indiana through its farm-to-bottle pepper sauce brand, Passager.
Kristen Morrison, owner of Willow Creek Acres, joined Daybreak to discuss the company’s growth from a local farm stand to a commercial bottling operation.
The brand name, Passager, is the French pronunciation of “passenger.” Morrison said it honors the passenger pigeon and the historic Pigeon Roost site near their farm in Scottsburg. Morrison’s vision includes giving back to the Scott County Historical Museum and using the brand to educate local students about the area’s history.
The production process at Willow Creek Acres begins unconventionally. Morrison said they start seeds inside a school bus converted into a greenhouse. The plants are then transferred to grow bags before they are transplanted into the field. The farm currently manages 700 pepper plants.
The farm began transforming from a raw pepper grower to a sauce producer in 2024. Morrison said the idea sparked during the Rural Roots Road Tour. While visitors enjoyed the farm’s market cart, many were hesitant to buy raw hot peppers.
Morrison worked through the Purdue AIC grant program to develop the brand’s first recipes. The farm recently completed a commercial kitchen, allowing the team to grow, make, and bottle the sauces entirely on-site.
The Passagier line features four distinct flavors. The Datil pepper sauce offers a sweet start with medium heat. The Jalapeño Lime sauce provides a citrus profile designed for fish and Mexican cuisine. The Tabasco sauce blends three colors of Tabasco peppers with pears and garlic, while the Cayenne sauce includes ghost peppers and a touch of agave for more heat.
Morrison emphasized that the sauces contain no allergens, preservatives, or xanthan gum, and focus on the peppers’ natural flavor.
Morrison said the company plans to expand to nationwide shipping and wholesale retail in the coming months.
