ABC 12 – WJRT – Flint, MIMid-Michigan woman doesn't allow disability to slow her business

Mid-Michigan woman doesn't allow disability to slow her business

(10/31/11) - A Mid-Michigan woman is running her own olive oil importing business and she's doing it from a wheelchair. She says she's not going to let a disability stop her from doing what she loves.

You'd better be on your toes if you're going to hang out in the same room as Marie Jaarsma-Killian. The owner, president and bottle washer of Carother's Oil Olive zips around her business in a wheelchair and doesn't let anything slow her down.

"I believe in this company. I believe in olive oil and I love it and so I bought it," Jaarsma-Killian said.

Carother's Olive Oil has been in Flint since 1948. Marie had been working there for 20 years when the decision was made early in 2010 to close the doors. She bought the name, the customer list and the label, moving the business to Burton.

"We supply extra virgin olive oil from the very first pressing to health food stores and restaurants, mostly wholesale; some retail," Jaarsma-Killian said.

The olive oil comes from Spain and each barrel weighs 457 pounds. The barrel is put on a cradle. That allows Marie to tap in easily.

"Right now it's just me working here. I'd love to be big enough and have the need to begin to hire," said Jaarsma-Killian.

Marie draws the oil from the drum and pours it into the steel cans, which she says is the only way to package it.

"I see some bottles that are listed extra virgin and they're in glass bottles, sitting under fluorescent lights, some of them are the color of corn oil. NO! NO!" Jaarsma-Killian said.

She seals the cans, ranging in size from a half pint to a gallon, with a hammer before shipping them all over the United States and Canada.

In September, Marie sold 40-50 gallons. She believes that will increase through an aggressive marketing campaign. Marie says she hopes she's an inspiration to others with disabilities.

"You make a choice whether you're going to do this or not. And I'm going to do this," she said.

For more information about Carother's Olive Oil, click here.