<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2TsN9H_0vssqjgn00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2TsN9H_0vssqjgn00" width="1200" height="800" ><figcaption>Laura Bru runs the Iowa Pie Lady food truck. Photos courtesy Iowa Pie Lady</figcaption></figure>Laura Bru mixes pleasure with business.Bru is the leader of the popular Iowa Pie Lady food truck recognized immediately at warm-weather events like the Farm Progress Show (in both Boone, Iowa, and Decatur, Illinois), farmer markets and town festivals around central Iowa.She’s not alone though, thanks to help from her family — husband, Ryan, and kids, Lilly and Jay.“We’re an adventurous bunch,” she said.Ryan is “the Ice Cream Man” who makes the perfect side dish to go with pie — a scoop of homemade vanilla ice cream. This year, they added a strawberry option.Nearly a decade ago, Bru said she and Ryan researched and planned how they would start their pie business. Smaller farmers markets were the first target.“I wanted to teach our kids good social and basic business skills,” she said. “That was the whole intention initially after we found there was a sought-after demand for our product, homemade pies,” she said.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4TgFB4_0vssqjgn00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4TgFB4_0vssqjgn00" width="1152" height="864" ></figure>Their first adventure took them to a Cedar Falls farmers market where the pleasant scent of freshly baked pies sitting on tables under a big sky-blue canopy attracted hungry patrons.They did a few more festivals and realized it was hard to organize on just a few tables under a canopy. Bru wanted to streamline the operation.“I wanted something really convenient and efficient for customers and us,” she said. “Then we got our food truck — our little kitchen on wheels — and it made things go smoother.”They found success and customers coming in droves to get in line for some pie as a refresherwhile walking around the 2018 Farm Progress Show.It was around that time when they moved two miles from their original house in Gladbrook, Iowa, out to a rural acreage.The Brus’ place also featured a shed they renovated into a service kitchen as the pie business picked up via online orders.<h2>People are also reading…</h2>“I’m always looking at the next thing … how can we go bigger?” she said. “New events are maybe among the bigger possibilities. I weigh pros and cons of how far is it and how much help will be needed. Can we do it justice? Are expenses going to come out in the black at this event? I’m always willing to try an event once.”Besides Farm Progress Shows, the annual balloon classic in Indianola always makes the list of places to go. They also eagerly wait to hear where RAGBRAI will be for the upcoming year. In 2023, the truck showed up at an overnight stop at nearby Toledo.The Brus strongly support local suppliers and events.“We always support the Gladbrook corn carnival, which is often our first event of the year in mid-June,” she said. “We also serve at local farmers markets during June and July and a few school events later in the year.”They also like working with area businesses, such as orchards, to get the sweet ingredients in the pies.Online business turn up the hectic pace in May thanks to holidays, graduations and weddings, she said.The start of fall is a transition period for Bru. Her time and energy shift from the hustle and bustle of trip preparation, cooking and traveling to shows to farm harvest, planning for 2025, part-time teaching and making pies to fill online orders.<figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1cSwDi_0vssqjgn00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1cSwDi_0vssqjgn00" width="576" height="734" ></figure>Good time management is key to stay organized, she said.“My planner is my Bible. It guides me to use each moment — prioritizing farming, substitute teaching, keeping on top of the online orders and setting time aside for family,” she said.During harvest, Bru runs the grain cart.“A few customers will even come up to the fence and wave to me to come over and place an order or to pick a pie up,” Bru said.She said they push to finish harvest at least a week or two before Thanksgiving. Pie demand ratchets up again for Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.Plans for the next year get narrowed down after New Year’s Day when the events start accepting, reviewing and picking applicants to be vendors.“Some are set fast. Some are more open for a while,” Bru said. “Our schedule is pretty well set by March.”For more delicious details, check out Bru’s website iowapielady.com.</div></body>

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Baker tastes success with food truck business

Laura Bru mixes pleasure with business. Bru is the leader of the popular Iowa Pie Lady food truck recognized immediately at warm-weather events like the Farm Progress Show (in both Boone, Iowa, and Decatur, Illinois), farmer markets and town festivals around central Iowa. She’s not alone though, thanks to help...

Baker tastes success with food truck business

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