Humboldt’s Tortilla Queen

Alejandra Gallegos first learned how to cook by watching her tia make meals for her family in Juarez, Mexico. Having grown up in the border cities of El Paso, Texas and Juarez, Gallegos takes these influences to shape her unique approach to cooking.

Gallegos is the woman behind The Humboldt Tortilla Depot, an artisanal supplier of homemade tortillas across Humboldt County.

Gallegos began her business as a result of family encouragement and a passion for culinary arts. Starting her business in May of 2023, Gallegos has since become a supplier for restaurants and local markets such as Pineapple Express, the Ingomar Club, Eureka Natural Foods and Wildberries.

In addition to the traditional blue and yellow corn tortillas, Gallegos also offers a variety of infused tortillas. Customers can order beet or spinach tortillas as well as options that pack some heat, like her spicy ginger garlic and jalepeño tortillas. She even offers keto and paleo options for those who might have dietary restrictions.

Gallegos hopes to soon offer a selection of flour tortillas due to high customer demand.

“When I make them, within an hour, they’re gone,” Gallegos said.

For Gallegos, operating her business has proven challenging, yet manageable, even with her growth in the past year.

“I spend eighty percent of my time in my kitchen…it’s just me, yeah,” chuckled Gallegos when asked about how many people worked for her. “I’m doing all the work, I’m doing all the driving, I’m delivering,” Gallegos said.

Even so, Gallegos is thrilled at the community’s support for her business.

“The support of the community has been amazing, just seeing people coming back, or seeing the same faces, that’s just wonderful,” Gallegos said. “That kind of just pushes me to keep going and going.”

Six Rivers Brewery, in Mckinleyville, previously used Gallegos’ product as a part of their past menus.

“It’s important to support local business for our community to thrive and survive and to see economic growth,” said Meredith Maier, co-owner of Six Rivers Brewery, “Entrepreneurship breeds entrepreneurship.”

Gallegos aspires to one day be able to open a tortilla shop.

“You know when you walk into a tortillaria and you see the tortillas coming down from the machine, and you can probably take a sample and eat it there,” Gallegos said.

When asked about possible locations for her storefront Gallegos said somewhere between Fortuna and Eureka.

But for now, you can pick up some tortillas from Gallegos herself at the Arcata Farmers Market, the Fortuna Farmers Market and the Henderson Center Farmers Market on Thursdays.

You can follow the Humboldt Tortilla Depot on Instagram and Facebook @thehumboldttortilladepot.