Inspiring Conversations with Alyssa Arellano of Little Arellano Farm

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alyssa Arellano.

Hi Alyssa , it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
Baking has always been part of my story. Growing up, it was our family’s Christmas tradition, and time in the kitchen with my parents was when I felt the most joy. When my father unexpectedly passed away during my teenage years, baking became my anchor. It gave me something steady to hold onto—a place where I could quiet my grief and focus on creating something comforting, something beautiful, something nourishing.
I poured myself into it. I began competing in culinary competitions in high school, placing at the state and national level, which opened doors to multiple scholarship opportunities. I went on to attend culinary school at 17, graduating at 19, and began my career at Bouchon in Beverly Hills. After working in several professional kitchens, I knew I wanted to build something of my own.
With my mom—my biggest supporter every step of the way—I opened my first bakery as a cottage food business. What started at farmers markets quickly grew into a full brick-and-mortar within three years. At the same time, my personal life was growing too. I met my husband, who became my partner in both life and business, and shortly after our honeymoon, we found out we were expecting our first child.
As my family grew, so did the weight of balancing it all. The long hours of running a bakery no longer aligned with the life I wanted at home, so I made the difficult decision to close that chapter. I was stepping away from one dream to fully embrace another—motherhood. After welcoming two more children, navigating postpartum life, and living through the uncertainty of COVID, I found myself searching for who I was beyond the roles I carried each day.
That’s when I found my way back to baking—this time through sourdough. It was simple, grounding, and deeply therapeutic. It fed my family, gave my hands something to do, and brought me a sense of peace. I began baking loaf after loaf, sharing bread with neighbors, teachers, and anyone who needed a little bit of comfort.
From that quiet season, Little Arellano Farm was born. And just like before, my husband and my mom were right there beside me—building our farm stand, supporting our family, and helping bring this new dream to life. What started as simple “Farm Stand Fridays” grew into farmers markets, a loyal community of regulars, and eventually a porch pickup system that allowed me to bake from home while raising my children.
Over time, it evolved even further into something I never could have imagined—teaching classes in our backyard garden. Surrounded by chickens, vegetables, and flowers, we gather to learn, create, and connect. It’s about more than just bread—it’s about slowing down, sharing skills, and building the kind of community that feels increasingly rare.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It hasn’t always been a smooth road—but I do feel incredibly blessed by how this business has grown and the community that surrounds it. I truly have the best customers. I call them my “farm family,” and they continue to show up for me in ways that still overwhelm me. Their support has allowed me to grow slowly and intentionally, upgrading equipment as needed and building something that feels sustainable and aligned with my life.
That said, the work behind the scenes is anything but easy. There have been many long nights spent baking through exhaustion, running on little to no sleep, and then waking up to care for three young children. Balancing motherhood and running a business at the same time is a constant dance—one that often feels messy and demanding.
But even in the hardest seasons, I’ve never lost sight of how grateful I am to be here. This path has given me the opportunity to build a life where I can pursue my passion while still being present for my family—and to me, that’s worth every challenge that comes with it.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Little Arellano Farm is a microbakery rooted in our urban homestead in Long Beach, California. I specialize in naturally leavened sourdough breads and fresh baked goods made with simple, high-quality ingredients. Everything I create is made with intention and care—I believe truly great baked goods start with what you put into them. That means no seed oils, no shortening, and no unnecessary preservatives or additives.
One of the biggest compliments I receive is that my products are balanced—never overly sweet, always comforting, and reminiscent of something homemade. That feeling of “this tastes like home” is exactly what I strive for in everything I bake.
What truly sets Little Arellano Farm apart, though, is the experience beyond the bread. Through my classes and events, I’ve created something that feels unexpected for the middle of a city. In our backyard garden—surrounded by chickens, growing food, and open air—we gather to learn traditional skills, create with our hands, and slow down together.
More than anything, I’m proud of the community that’s grown from it. It’s become a space where people can show up exactly as they are, connect with others, and feel a sense of belonging. That, to me, is the heart of Little Arellano Farm.

What does success mean to you?
To me, success is finding something you truly love, doing it well, and having the ability to share it with your community in a meaningful way. It’s not just about growth or numbers—it’s about impact.
I measure success in the small, quiet moments: someone taking a bite of something I made and feeling comforted, strangers leaving as friends after a class, or creating a space where people can slow down and feel at ease.
At the end of the day, success is simply this—filling the world with more good than bad, in whatever way you can.

Pricing:

• Baked goods range $ 5-40
• Classes range from $75-$150

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/littlearellanofarm?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574791634685&mibextid=ZbWKwL

Image Credits
Karissa Raya