The background story to Gunnar & Jake’s is truly an Amazing one! Kristi’s love and passion for cooking started when she became a Mom. She always wanted the best and healthiest foods for her two sons, Gunnar & Jake, thus making everything from scratch and making everything homemade. Kristi truly enjoys cooking and has a true passion for it from all of her cookbooks, especially her grandmother's. Kristi's also self-taught. She also loves to get inspiration from some of her beloved Food Network stars! Kristi wanted to create the healthiest line of gourmet pickled foods on the market today using absolutely no sugar and the lowest amount of sodium, as PICKLES and anything Pickled are her favorite foods.

Kristi also battles Chronic Kidney Disease, which is a silent killer. She’s battled it since she was 15 years old. She’s had a tough journey enduring having two premature babies, Gunnar being 6 weeks premature weighing only 3 lb at birth, and Jake being 14 weeks premature weighing only 1 lb 10 oz at birth. Kristi’s also been in kidney failure twice; receiving two kidney transplants and battled cancer. Kristi never takes life for granted and cherishes every moment she has here on earth!

Kristi’s father, Thomas Stefansky, was also her biggest fan and absolutely loved her Gourmet Dill Pickles and Hot Hungarian peppers. She would always catch him eating them in the kitchen and Kristi's Dad would tell her “boy you really need to start selling these”! Kristi promised her Dad that she would and when she did she would dedicate every jar to him. She stuck to that promise as every jar is dedicated to her beloved father on earth, Thomas J. Stefansky, and her Father in Heaven!