California baker turns childhood passion into business with nonprofit’s help
By Jazmon DeJarnette
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WATSONVILLE, California (KSBW) — Yazmin Flores Opperman, a Watsonville baker, has transformed her love of pastries into a successful business with the support of a local nonprofit.
Opperman has been baking since she was a little girl. She grew up in Mexico, later studied culinary arts in Mexico City, and spent years showcasing her pastries in restaurants. But eventually, she wanted something of her own.
“If you have the courage, and look for the ways, you can do it,” Opperman said.
For Opperman, finding her way meant finding support. She found that through El Pajaro Community Development, a Watsonville nonprofit that helps entrepreneurs get the tools and skills they need to run a business.
One way it does that is through its commercial kitchen, which gives food business owners a place to prepare their products without having to open a kitchen of their own.
“The last thing that we want community members to feel is the overwhelming aspect of documentation, language barriers that they face when they’re trying to open a business. So we try to make that lighter on them,” said a representative from El Pajaro.
Within El Pajaro is Mujeres Emprendiendo Vuelo, a program focused on helping Latina entrepreneurs build their businesses.
“It has had such a success, and especially on women entrepreneurs, because we understand that through the history, women have a tendency to have much more challenges to access capital, to access services, and to access opportunities,” said Cesario Ruiz, director of culinary business development, El Pajaro Community Development.
Opperman is one of about 40 businesses operating out of El Pajaro’s commercial kitchen. Before launching her bakery, Opperman received help from El Pajaro, learning what it takes to turn her baking into a business.
“They taught me about, like, finances, marketing, licensing, everything you need to start your own business,” Opperman said.
In May 2025, Opperman opened Le Sucre Cake Studio, bringing her hard work and dreams to life.
“Everything can be tied to my Mexican roots. And that’s why I create some desserts with European techniques, more like French techniques,” Opperman said.
Today, Opperman fills about 70 orders a week. From preparing those orders to selling her treats at local farmers markets, her days start early and don’t end when the baking is done.
“It’s seven days, like 24 hours, but I enjoy it. I do this since I was a child and I played to make cakes, and this is my life,” Opperman said.
With support from El Pajaro, Opperman has built a foundation for her business and hopes to take it even further.
“We want to open a front door shop. It’s the dream. My grandmother always said to me the limit is the sky. And I always believe in that,” Opperman said.
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