Chickpea magnet Blake Wollman of The Wild Pea Hummous has come up with a pink-hued hummus pegged to Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October.
Wollman’s Beet Breast Cancer Hummous, a beet-based chickpea spread, is currently available at local Mars markets and Harris Teeter.
While details are still waiting to firm, Wollman is also hoping to sell the product at Whole Foods and Wegmans, as well as at the Baltimore Farmers Market.
Having developed more than 360 flavors through the years, the former owner of the Desert Café in Mt. Washington is a Baskin-Robbins of hummus of sorts.
“Back in 2003, at the Desert Café, I stated creating these flavors—from cinnamon- raisin hummus to pineapple hummus to peanut–butter-and-jelly hummus,” explains Wollman, who, on average, turns out 6000 containers a day out of his Randallstown headquarters. “I love throwing things together and I love mixing flavors like sweet and salty. People call me Willy Wonka,” he adds with a laugh.
The inspiration behind the new flavor came about about after Wollman decided to concoct specialty items for Breast Cancer Awareness Month last year.
“I did a different flavor each week,” says Wollman, whose product will be available year-round. “Flavors like pink lemonade and watermelon and feta. I thought, ‘Why do this just for October?’”
Beet Breast Cancer Hummous includes chickpeas, beets, garlic, and lemon juice and is all natural and preservative free. “It has a mild beet flavor that isn’t overpowering,” he explains, “and it’s all about the color—the color is beautiful.”
With his spread, Wollman is personally committed to spreading awareness for the deadly disease that kills more than 40,000 women a year (and approximately 810 in Maryland alone), according to the American Cancer Society.
“It’s definitely a cause close to home,” says Wollman. “I’ve had family members who’ve been impacted by this disease.”
A percentage of the proceeds will go the American Cancer Society, as well as toward fundraising efforts for the organization’s 5K walk on Oct. 18 5K at the Weinberg Family Y at Stadium Place.