How My Viral Strawberry Hack Landed Me on the TED Talk Stage

The Beginning

During the pandemic I found myself reading to fill the time, my family was on zoom calls and we were in the middle of a kitchen remodel. After reading 136 books, I realized that it was no longer a good thing and I needed a new focus. I started sharing grocery tips on my favorite social media pages when I saw people asking questions. So many people were asking about how to keep food fresh and talking about how stressful it was to not be able to find the food they needed at the grocery store. People were also trying to avoid going to the grocery store so they needed their food to last longer.

It was nothing new for me to stretch my trips to the grocery store, I had been doing this for years. I also had a pantry of essentials and had an idea of what we would need in an emergency. The Cross Legacy was born when I was encouraged by friends and family to start sharing my own information online.

Strawberries in a Jar

One of my early posts on The Cross Legacy Instagram was about storing Strawberries in a Jar. Little did I know that this is the post that would end up changing my life.

Every time I logged back into my social media after I posted it, I saw that the number of views had increased as well as the shares. It was going viral! People all over the world were learning about strawberries in a jar. We kept celebrating each milestone and were amazed as the numbers kept growing and growing. Going viral is such a fun ride and my family and I were soaking in all of the excitement.

Applying for a TED Talk

Preparing for My TED Talk

As we got closer to the event, I practiced for hours on end. When it was time to pack, we had the challenge of safely transporting two-week old strawberries and lettuce in order to use them on stage.

Behind the Scenes at TED Talk

Once we arrived, all of the speakers had a rehearsal together and the coaches were tough on us. They knew that we had important messages to share and they wanted to make sure that we did our best and got it right.

I was going to be sharing parts of my life that I don’t usually share about and as I looked out at the audience, many of the people who helped us through those times were sitting there supporting me now. Even though the emotions were heavy, I knew that my story was just as important as the grocery tips that I was going to share. I wanted to get it right.

The day of the event was equal parts nerve racking and exciting. I was set to go on after intermission and I knew that people would be ready to hear my talk with fresh ears. I was ready to get on the stage and tell my story, hoping that it would help others.

When the time came, I got on the stage and shared about those challenging times in my life. I talked about my Strawberries in a Jar and why it was so necessary for me to have produce that lasts longer and is already prepped in my refrigerator.

While I was speaking, I could feel how engaged the audience was. They were truly listening to what I was saying and taking it all in. Afterwards the feedback was all positive and it was amazing to hear.

Feeding your family doesn’t need to be stressful and take up so much of your time, money, and energy. Follow along with me as I continue this journey and allow me to show you how to change that. 

That is how Strawberries in a Jar changed my life, implementing my tips can change yours too.

Behind-The-Scenes Footage

What I Learned and Going Forward

Watch My Full TED Talk

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