CHINO HILLS, CA - In so many ways, food tells the story of our lives. When I walked away from my conversation with Geraldine “Gerrie” Pompa one afternoon in late March, I could not help but feel a deeper connection to the personal stories that, like many of Gerrie’s, are not just fixtures in our lives, but the way we live them. Gerrie, as her friends and family call her, took this idea and founded a company on it: Amor Salsita.
“My dad called us all amor—it was his term of endearment for those closest to him. So, it just made sense to have our brand reflect that same care and connection as the salsa we make,” Gerrie begins. “Food has always been a way for us to create connection in our family and communities. No matter how much—or little—money we had, my abuelita, my dad, and my mom always made sure we had delicious food on the table, recipes that were good for the soul and told our story.”
Amor Salsita was born in the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic when Founder and Owner Gerrie and her sister, Erica, began crafting salsa in their home kitchen. What started as a creative experiment with Hatch chiles to spice up their fish tacos quickly grew into a passionate business, fueled by generations of culinary wisdom and a commitment to sharing love through food. Today, the company offers eight salsas, with five as clean-label options containing no preservatives.
A notable milestone: Amor Salsita is now the official salsa of ESPN LA “710.” This partnership feels natural. Salsa has no season or meal it can't be included in; pair that with sports, and it's a win-win for Amor Salsita, ESPN LA “710”, and retail partners.
“It’s amazing to think that just six years ago we were sharing our salsa recipes with our community, and now we are selling them in stores across Southern California,” Gerrie says.
Now, Gerrie works day-to-day with her son, Ayden, who manages operations, while Gerrie stays on the front lines, sharing the brand's story.
The Amor Salsita line officially launched with AVP in August 2024. This month, the company achieved a huge milestone: selling 1 million units of salsa since launch.
“For our little salsa business, that’s incredibly exciting and gives me butterflies just thinking about it,” Gerrie shares. “I have a deep appreciation for AVP’s support and partnership, and gratitude for the production team that works hard to ensure every batch is made with the freshest, highest-quality ingredients. My goal is to bring the same great-tasting salsas to everyone’s table. When someone opens a container of Amor Salsita, I hope they taste what I tasted growing up—fresh ingredients, authentic recipes, and a lot of love.
Gerrie’s passion for her salsa is evident in each batch, where she sources only fresh ingredients produced to the highest standards. No compromises.
“My dad would be proud of where we started and the fact that we have remained true to our original vision to share our love through food,” Gerrie says, reflecting back on when she and Erica did a farmer’s market and made over 300 containers of salsa—selling out of every container. “We recorded a videotape of that day and sent it to my dad at the hospital. It was one of the last things he saw before he passed away. It was our gift to him and, today, it is a thank you from us for all the gifts he gave us.”
When food tells your story, the chance to share it becomes something deeply personal. Exactly as a good meal should be.
