As a registered dietician based in Las Vegas with the Nevada Cancer Institute, Jessica Aragona-Shaw often came up north and worked with skilled nursing facilities on a per diem basis. It was during this time in her life when she was introduced to Mineral County and struck by the beauty of Walker Lake, and soon moved to the area.
“The first time I came through Walker Lake I thought I was seeing a mirage. I was astounded,” she says. On one of her trips between northern California and southern Nevada, Jessica Aragona-Shaw stopped in at The Rock Shop in Walker Lake and she and the former owner fell in love.
Kayla Anderson – Some of the offerings of the Walker Lake Candy Company.
“I loved it here and he loved it here, so we ended up finding a house [and moving to Walker Lake] in 2017,” Aragona-Shaw says. She affirms that their house has a beautiful view of the lake, Mount Grant, and the bighorn sheep that sometimes stray into their yard.
“We all love the lake and want to see it flourish. Having this view, the majesty of it and the mountains…” she says, adding that the residents are all happy that the lake is full right now.
Aragona-Shaw is still a dietician but has also always been a candy maker. While the two roles may seem contradictory, Aragona-Shaw has been making fudge and giving it away to friends and family for years, especially during the holiday season when the fudge tends to keep better.
Aragona-Shaw has a cottage food license and one day got into a conversation with her kids’ dentist about sugar’s effect on tooth decay. They started talking about xylitol- a sugar alternative that helps prevent cavities- and it got Aragona-Shaw’s wheels turning. The dentist encouraged her to try to make gummies, thinking that a healthier-than-store-bought version would help patients get their sweet fix while preserving their teeth.
Aragona-Shaw began experimenting with making them, using xylitol as the candy’s sugar alternative. Her children along with the dentist’s kids became the taste testers and it took 30 or so batches to get it right (she still sells them strictly by request through the dentist’s office).
It was around this time when the fudge came back into play, and she began selling it at local events. The first event she set a booth up at was Earth Day Celebration in 2022 at Veterans Memorial Park. She did well selling her treats at the Celebration but learned quickly about what Mineral County residents liked.
“It seemed like people weren’t as interested in the gummies as they were in my fudge,” Aragona-Shaw says. She also makes her own trail mixes with some of the ingredients in them being dried edamame, peanuts, pumpkin seeds, sea salt, sunflower seeds, cayenne pepper, and pure maple syrup.
“I have a tree nut allergy; it’s hard to find premade [trail mixes] so I make my own,” she says, calling it a “seeds and beans mix”. Aragona-Shaw always tries to use organic ingredients and will only sell food products that her or her family will eat. “If you have extra [from an event] then it has to get eaten somehow,” she smiles.
She certainly didn’t have a problem with leftovers at the Armed Forces Day event in 2022.
“Armed Forces Day was a raging success. I had a booth at Souled Out and I completely sold out of all my stuff,” she adds.
However, since fudge doesn’t exactly love the heat (which makes it a better Christmas treat), Aragona-Shaw has to be selective about what events she participates in. She doesn’t sell her fudge in July (“No amount of ice packs are going to keep the fudge intact,” Aragona-Shaw says) but she will sell a Red, White and Blueberry Fudge Armed Forces Day weekend when the weather is still cool. The Walker Lake Candy Company maker creates around a dozen assorted flavors of fudge throughout the year, her most recent addition is a sea salt butterscotch. Aragona-Shaw also brings out seasonal specials such as a pumpkin spice fudge in the fall and candy cane/dark chocolate peppermint fudge during Christmas.
Aragona-Shaw primarily sells her fudge online through her Facebook page but has taken part in events at the 101 Bizarre Gallery and Bighorn Crossing and other local events that support the Walker Lake community.
“A lot of what I do throughout the year is by request,” Aragona-Shaw says about the baby showers, weddings, business openings, and holiday events that she provides treats for.
When asked what her favorite candy is to make, she quickly replies that it’s chocolate clusters. “It’s a combination of fudge and trail mix, the best of both worlds. It’s fun and tasty, but I sell it weather dependent. I like to make the chocolate base and dip it in a variety of stuff then scoop it out. They all have the same basic ingredients, but each one is a bit different,” she says.
She confirms that her kids are thrilled that their mom is a candy maker, and more than willing to be tasters.
“My kids always comment how lucky they are,” Aragona-Shaw smiles. At the urging of her best friend who is vegan, Aragona-Shaw even just perfected a vegan fudge recipe this past December.
“It took me several batches, but I finally came up with a recipe that my best friend likes,” Aragona-Shaw says, sharing that one of her neighbors is fond of it, too. “But just because it’s vegan doesn’t mean it’s healthier,” she adds.
While her fudge is a hit, her focus is still on how to make delicious candy that is better for you.
“It all starts and ends with the gummy. A healthy gummy is unique, and my goal is for them to be popular for kids and adults. I’m a healthcare professional, so I ultimately try to create a product that is good for people,” she says.
To put in a special Walker Lake Candy Company order, email walkerlakecandy@gmail.com.
