‘Iowa Pie Lady’ Sells Pie From Her Food Truck
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The Iowa Pie Lady has come a long way since she set up a card table and her two children to sell her baked goods at a farmers market about 10 years ago. These days, Laura Bru bakes pies in her licensed commercial kitchen on her family’s Gladbrook, Iowa, farm. Pie lovers hunt for her food truck at events such as Farm Progress and Half Century of Progress shows.
When not making or selling pies, Bru and her husband, Ryan, are row crop farmers. Bru’s original goal was to teach her two young children social and business skills, and she was proud when they quickly mastered the art of counting back change. In the process, Bru discovered that pies made her stand out among other baker vendors.
“It’s kind of a lost art. There’s a little more labor of love—you can taste it,” Bru says about baking pies from scratch, making pie crusts with lard, and filling them with fruit, nut, and cream fillings. Her mother-in-law had made family celebrations special with her pies, and when she died in 2007, Bru stepped in to continue the tradition.
“I didn’t focus on pies until our first RAGBRAI (Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa),” Bru says. The family set up their pies under canopies in field driveways and between town locations along the cyclists’ route. Word spread, and riders asked where she would be the next day.
“We only ever made it to day three,” Bru says with a laugh as they ran out of pies by then.
In 2018, the Brus invested in a licensed food truck that Bru designed as a space to prepare, bake and sell her pies. Later, another supply trailer, complete with a freezer and extra tables, was added to the fleet.
She buys local food and supplies as much as possible, including from a nearby dairy farm and apple orchard. During a full production day, Bru makes 100 pies in her shed, which has a commercial kitchen, that her kids call Bru’s “Habitat.”
Her strawberry/rhubarb and caramel apple pies are very popular, with demand for French silk and peanut butter cream pies spiking around the holidays. She has 20 pies on her “menu” that sell for $20-$25. But she’s always up for a challenge to try something new, such as a bacon pecan pie she made for a pork producers contest.
Pie slices sell for $7 from the Iowa Pie Lady’s food truck at area events. For $10, they come with homemade ice cream freshly churned by her husband, Ryan.
“My business is very family and faith-based. I give my family all the credit they deserve,” Bru says.
Bru currently takes orders for local pickup through her website and is researching ways to ship her pies safely. This summer, FARM SHOW readers can find her at the Cedar Falls farmers market, the National Balloon Classic in Indianola, Iowa, the Farm Progress Show in Decatur, Ill., and other events.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Laura Bru, Iowa Pie Lady, 1397 Hwy. T55, Gladbrook, Iowa 50635 (ph 641-750-6606; iowapielady@gmail.com; www.iowapielady.com).
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‘Iowa Pie Lady’ Sells Pie From Her Food Truck The Iowa Pie Lady has come a long way since she set up a card table and her two children to sell her baked goods at a farmers market about 10 years ago These days Laura Bru bakes pies in her licensed commercial kitchen on her family’s Gladbrook Iowa farm Pie lovers hunt for her food truck at events such as Farm Progress and Half Century of Progress shows When not making or selling pies Bru and her husband Ryan are row crop farmers Bru’s original goal was to teach her two young children social and business skills and she was proud when they quickly mastered the art of counting back change In the process Bru discovered that pies made her stand out among other baker vendors “It’s kind of a lost art There’s a little more labor of love—you can taste it ” Bru says about baking pies from scratch making pie crusts with lard and filling them with fruit nut and cream fillings Her mother-in-law had made family celebrations special with her pies and when she died in 2007 Bru stepped in to continue the tradition “I didn’t focus on pies until our first RAGBRAI Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa ” Bru says The family set up their pies under canopies in field driveways and between town locations along the cyclists’ route Word spread and riders asked where she would be the next day “We only ever made it to day three ” Bru says with a laugh as they ran out of pies by then In 2018 the Brus invested in a licensed food truck that Bru designed as a space to prepare bake and sell her pies Later another supply trailer complete with a freezer and extra tables was added to the fleet She buys local food and supplies as much as possible including from a nearby dairy farm and apple orchard During a full production day Bru makes 100 pies in her shed which has a commercial kitchen that her kids call Bru’s “Habitat ” Her strawberry/rhubarb and caramel apple pies are very popular with demand for French silk and peanut butter cream pies spiking around the holidays She has 20 pies on her “menu” that sell for $20-$25 But she’s always up for a challenge to try something new such as a bacon pecan pie she made for a pork producers contest Pie slices sell for $7 from the Iowa Pie Lady’s food truck at area events For $10 they come with homemade ice cream freshly churned by her husband Ryan “My business is very family and faith-based I give my family all the credit they deserve ” Bru says Bru currently takes orders for local pickup through her website and is researching ways to ship her pies safely This summer FARM SHOW readers can find her at the Cedar Falls farmers market the National Balloon Classic in Indianola Iowa the Farm Progress Show in Decatur Ill and other events Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Laura Bru Iowa Pie Lady 1397 Hwy T55 Gladbrook Iowa 50635 ph 641-750-6606; iowapielady@gmail com; www iowapielady com
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