i mentioned my friend dan and his wonderful jams briefly in jill’s killer stuffed french toast, but i wanted to devote an entire post to jam according to daniel. from his website:
I am a Charlottesville-based jam maker, working exclusively with local fruit in season. I learned the value of local ingredients while making jam at a local winery under managers who were looking out for the bottom line, rather than the quality of the product. I was forced to use the cheapest fruit available, all sourced through local produce companies but originating in far-off places like Florida, California, and Oregon. After the fruit had traveled for days, from the fields to my pot, in the back of a refrigerated Semi, it was woody and tasteless, and did not bring enough flavor to the jam. Once I’d started my own jam business, I was overjoyed both with the quality of fresh local fruit and with the added significance that local ingredients gave my jam. Buying local fruit from farmers means I value the fruit more, because in addition to a lower cost, I can interact with the actual human beings who grow what I buy, sell, and eat myself. I can extend this relationship between producer and consumer another step when I sell my jam, interacting directly with my customers, who eventually consume what is, in part, the “fruit” of my labors.
I got to work with dan for a short time and see his production and retail practices first hand. it was inspiring. he makes sure every aspect of the process is of the highest quality, from hand picking the fruit to selling dozens of jars in a couple hours to an army of loyal customers. when i got to california and saw the amazing farmers’ markets here, i made my first batch of jam (it was fig, by the way). when i called dan to tell him about it, he was really sweet and supportive, and gave me his blessing.
This guy not only taught me everything i know about making jam, he introduced me to jam worth loving! I remember eating the first jams he made on his own, and having a nearly spiritual experience. it reminded me of the feeling of eating the florida tangerines my mom would ship to me while i was suffering through the hellish winters of massachussetts. it’s basically like biting a piece of concentrated sunshine distilled from a summer’s worth of beautiful days. the smartest and luckiest people in charlottesville, virginia are the ones that go religiously to the farmers’ market to get their jam fix and bat their eyes at handsome dan.
he shipped me a beautiful box, complete with some new flavors. thanks daniel!
(flavors: damson, double plum, pear ginger, pear lavender, yellow peach + lime)
tomato kitchen 