The concept of Rise and Set Provisions had been on Heather Hulbert’s heart for more than two years now.
Hulbert is the owner and force behind The Spice and Tea Exchange®, with shops in Williamsburg and Richmond.
In 2020, she was diagnosed with celiac disease and soon learned how challenging it was to find flavorful and safe gluten- free food options anywhere near her home in Warsaw.
Rise and Set Provisions, located on Main Street in downtown Warsaw, is more than a health food market, although it certainly makes life easier for those with food or nut allergies and sensitivities such as alpha-gal, celiac disease and lactose intolerance. “But also, more people want to eat clean and they’re looking for products that don’t have refined sugars and dyes in them,” Hulbert says. “When you come here, we can teach you about healthier living and cleaner eating.”
Sera Petras Photography
The official Rise & Set team, owner Heather Hulbert and fiancé Berkley Cash.
The light-filled space is outfitted with locally made custom shelving boasting an array of food items and brands not found in local grocery stores. Products such as grain-free Magic Spoon cereals have no sugar and plenty of protein yet evoke the cereals of childhood. Starter culture kits allow customers to make their own Greek yogurt. Fruit snacks are free of harmful dyes. “We take the guesswork out of your regular shopping trips,” she says. “We don’t want to be intimidating; we want to be helpful.”
Another wall is home to an array of loose-leaf teas, spices, specialty salts and custom cooking blends. Customers can buy as much or little of these products as they desire. “Maybe you need a certain spice for a recipe but you’re not sure you’ll need it again,” Hulbert says. “You can buy a pinch or a pound, however much you want.”
Sustainability is one of Hulbert’s core values and while she acknowledges that plastic is never going away, Rise and Set Provisions is all about refilling and reusing. Glass bottles, jars and pump bottles are available for sale or customers can bring their own. “My grandmother has been an inspiration to me, and she saved everything she could reuse,” Hulbert says with a smile. “We can’t go back to how our grandparents lived, but we can make small, modest changes that are good for us and the planet.”
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Bulk items include coffee, rice, beans, trail mix, seeds and nuts, with the exception of peanuts which she doesn’t carry in any form. At the olive oil bar, customers can choose from an array of oils, including garlic, balsamic, onion, basil or lemon olive oil. A bulk selection of vinegars are available. Hulbert offers decorative Rise and Set labels for jars and bottles, which are then marked with the product, allergens and weight.
The refillery model also applies to health, home and beauty products that can be purchased in any amount. Laundry detergent, dishwashing soap, hand lotion, shampoo and facial toner are chosen for their nontoxic qualities. “We’re helping customers use less plastic,” Hulbert says. “We carry dark amber containers for things like moisturizer or spices that sit out on the counter and shouldn’t be exposed to sun.”
Sera Petras Photography
Buy a pinch or a pound of all your favorites.
The focus on sustainability extends to home and kitchen products such as biodegradable sponges, beeswax birthday candles, recycled dish towels and safety razors to replace disposables. Natural deodorants, dry shampoo and healing balms and tinctures offer safer options and are kinder to the environment. That focus extends to the store’s own trash, which is separated and recycled.
Part of Hulbert’s motivation for opening Rise and Set Provisions was the amount of time she’d been on the road between the two Spice and Tea Exchange locations. Now with strong managers in place and her fiancé Berkley overseeing both, she has time to devote to a business close to home and her three daughters, ages 16, 15 and 11.
“I spent years parenting and driving,” she says. “But if something is on your heart and staying there, it’s for a reason. You can’t continue to ignore it.”
Sera Petras Photography
Helpful handmade wooden signs (no stencils used!) are made near Richmond by Scratch Vintage. Specialty teas and how-to books are also available.
She credits her inspiring work ethic to her mother, who’s also president of The Spice and Tea Exchange®. Her father has worked for the same company for 45 years. “They taught me that dedication is essential,” she says. “And I don’t take ‘no’ for an answer. As a single mom, you just have to figure things out and that applies to business, too.”
Not surprisingly, Hulbert has additional plans for Rise and Set Provisions going forward. She wants to offer cooking classes as well as a safe and educational space for the community to learn about dietary variety and eco-friendly options. Gift boxes tailored to specific dietary restrictions such as gluten intolerance are also in the plans. “I want to offer pre-packaged fresh foods in compostable packaging,” she says. “Part of it is cost because I want to succeed at business but also bring these kinds of better choices to the table.”
A big part of her focus is on inclusion. Hiring young employees with special needs appeals to her because of the limited employment opportunities they have and her ability to set them up for success. “Another of my goals is to accept EBT, which would open up healthful options to all communities,” she says.
Rise and Set Provisions is curated with local customers in mind, with Hulbert’s hope to revolutionize the way the community cares for itself and the planet. Eventually, she’ll accept donations of glass jars, allowing people to recycle them much like her grandmother did. “She never threw a jar away,” Hulbert says. “I’m trying to continue the efforts of my grandparents to recycle and reuse.”
Sera Petras Photography
With easy parking directly in front of the store and a wood-grained sign on the front of the building welcoming customers, Rise and Set Provisions offers locals and second-home visitors a space that offers sustainable, clean eating options. “Our prices are in line with prices in cities that carry these products,” she says. “Now instead of a long drive to Williamsburg or Richmond, customers can shop here on the Northern Neck.”
With the opening of Rise and Set Provisions—the name is a nod to Hulbert’s being a morning person and living on Sunset Lane—in April, Hulbert is proof that believing in your mission yields both results and personal satisfaction. “No mission is ever too small if it’s weighing on you,” she says. “If something’s pushing you to do something, go for it!”
Rise and Set Provisions | 145C Main Street, Warsaw | 804-445-3188 | riseandsetprovisions.com
