| Have
you ever wondered about the history of the berry? Most people
have heard of the common varieties like the Red Raspberry, the
Olallie, the Marion, the Loganberry. But there are many more varieties,
each with its own unique characteristics (see the sidebar).
A Brief History of
the Blackberry
The genus Rubus in the family Rosaceae includes red and black
raspberries, Loganberry, Boysenberry, Marionberry and other
blackberry types, and many others. Rubus species were important
in the United States and Canada for hundreds of years. They
were gathered by the Native Americans all over North America,
and important to colonists as well. The first commercial nursery
plants were sold by William Price in 1771.
Frequently Asked
Questions about Preserves
Q: What is the difference between a jam, a preserve, a jelly
and marmalade?
A: This is a common question. A jam and preserve are
the same -- they contain chunks of fruit or pureed fruit. A
jelly is made from the juice of the fruit and a marmalade is
a jelly with suspended citrus rind.
Q: Where do you
get the fruit for your jams?
A: Our citrus fruit for our marmalades comes from the
Riverside area and also our own trees. The berries are from
Northern California, Oregon and Washington. We also get fresh
vegetables for some of our products from the Los Angeles produce
market.
Q: What is the
shelf life of your jams?
A: Our jams, jellies, and marmalades have a long shelf
life, typically about 2 years. Some light colored products may
darken with age but the flavor will remain.
Q: I notice that
sometimes your jams crystallize, why?
A: We make all of our jams using pure cane sugar for
optimum flavor. Because this sugar is not an invert sugar, it
tends to 'crystallize' when refrigerated. This means that sugar
crystals appear. The jam is still good. To make the crystals
disappear, place in your microwave for about 15 seconds (remove
the lid). We recommend that you store our jams at room temperature,
even after opening. The shelf life after opening is about 6
months. If refrigeration is required, there will be a note on
the label. |