How a viral pistachio topping helped a market stall become a shopping centre hit

A simple strawberry and chocolate stall has made a mark at Tassie markets now finding a more permanent home, as one viral topping drives huge demand.

Partners Daniel Velasquez and Manuela Gaviria owners of Stasberry. Stasberry pop up at Eastlands Shopping Centre for Summer. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

A Colombian couple’s business has become a market staple with their locally sourced strawberries and chocolate.

Daniel Velasquez and Manuela Gaviria began selling the sweet treat over a year ago.

They first started selling strawberries and chocolate in winter 2024 at markets, but when they started using locally sourced strawberries and chocolate things took off.

“Peoples have reacted really good,” Mr Velasquez said.

“We’ve got a new topping, a viral trend around the world, which is the pistachio topping.”

Partners Daniel Velasquez and Manuela Gaviria owners of Stasberry. Stasberry pop up at Eastlands Shopping Centre for Summer. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Having had success at markets like Street Eats @ Francos and Hobart Twilight Market, Stasberry now have a stall open over summer at Eastlands Shopping Centre.

“People can find us here for the next three months at least, but if everything goes well, we’ll be here for six months,” Mr Velasquez said.

Stasberry uses strawberries from DM Jenning and Sons in Huon Valley, and chocolate from Anvers in Latrobe.

Mr Velasquez said the couple had been warmly embraced by the Tasmanian community since moving to the Apple Isle in 2023.

“One of the reasons we started to love Tasmania from the first day was because there isn’t too many people, everything is a bit relaxed and it surrounded by nature as well,” Mr Velasquez said.

“We feel at home.”

But the biggest thing was the Tasmanian people.

“All Tasmanian people is similar to home,” Mr Velasquez said.

“People ask about us, want to know about the product, if we talk Spanish, try to talk to Spanish with us. We love the people.”

Stasberry will be making the most of this summer growing season taking their product to markets across Tasmania including Cygnet, Huonville and Street Eats in Launceston just to name a few.

They also go interstate for events during winter, this year they went to Sunshine Coast, Port Douglas and Melbourne.

“We will go to the mainland again to represent Tasmania,” Mr Velasquez said.

Originally published as How a viral pistachio topping helped a market stall become a shopping centre hit