Monday, March 03, 2008

an Internet tale of lost love found again


I love jam. In the summertime I stock up on locally made jams at our farmer’s market and nurse them all the way through winter. I use it in place of sugar on oatmeal and in plain yogurt, and of course on buttered toast.

Regrettably, I’m just about nearing the end of my stash.

Of all jams I love Deer Mountain most of all. Deer Mountain is available in grocery stores in the Seattle area – I haven't seen it anywhere else. There’s something just right about Deer Mountain jam – maybe a little too sweet, but so bursting with fruit flavor that you blame the berries.

My brother AMB lived with me one summer in Seattle and developed an addiction to their raspberry. After he moved away I would send him a jar periodically, but never frequently enough, I’m sure. I’m a huge fan of the blueberry – ‘specially spread on bread with cream cheese – and their gooseberry – so tart, so good – set out when friends come for dinner with crusty bread and plain old chevre.

Today I pulled my last blueberry farmer’s stash down from the shelf, and started thinking about Deer Mountain. Thought I’d try Googling them one more time – even though the last few times I’ve tried I came up empty-handed.

Here’s what unfolded next via email:

=== ME ===

Hi there:
I found a reference online that led me to believe that Tea-n-Crumpets preserves are also known as Deer Mountain Preserves as they are sold in grocery stores in Washington State. Is this assumption correct?

I noticed that many of your preserves are the same as Deer Mtn -- Gooseberry and Blackberry, for example -- although Blueberry is noticeably missing.

http://tinyurl.com/2elvdm

Thank you for your time -- I'm a huge fan of Deer Mountain Preserves and have been disappointed not to be able to find them in Illinois -- it would be lovely if they're one and the same.

best,
D.


=== ME AGAIN ===

Hey A:
I *think* this jam:
http://tinyurl.com/2elvdm

May be Deer Mountain jam under another name.

the only problem is that THEY DO NOT CARRY BLUEBERRY.

which is *hugely* problematic.

I've sent an email to customer service -- I'll keep you informed.

love ya,
D

but p.s. they DO carry raspberry.


=== AMB ===

which is probably better for day-to-day consumption, unless you eat pancakes everyday.


=== JENA ROSE, TEA-N-CRUMPETS CUSTOMER SERVICE ===

Hi D,

Yes; I'm happy to report that Deer Mountain "private labels" our Tea-n-Crumpets preserves. We've been selling their jams for 13 years-they are simply the best!

Unfortunately, Barbara let us know they had discontinued the Blueberry. I don't know why, but it had run it's course.

Thanks for checking; we hope you'll be pleased.

Regards,
Jena Rose
Tea-n-Crumpets



I’ll spare you the thread-of-much-rejoicing, except to say that AMB questioned whether blueberry could *ever* run its course, and I had to sorrowfully agree.

Suffice it to say: I’m placing my order today and will shunt a few jars of raspberry down New Mexico way.

Oh happy day.

9 comments:

Sarah B. Roberts said...

Mmmm, try Sarabeth's too. Or maybe you have. The apricot is to die for.

suttonhoo said...

it may be some time before I dig out of my now plentiful supply of deer mtn -- but once I do, I will. ;)

thanks!

Two Cables and a Frapp said...

Oh !!! This story was too cute and too funny. They were not only out of your blueberry but it is discontinued. Funny but sad. I love your blog.

suttonhoo said...

hey two cables -- thanks! so glad you delurked. :) gave me a chance to explore your lovely blog -- which has given me yet *another* good reason to get off my butt and learn how to knit.

Anonymous said...

Blueberry has "run it's coarse"?
Is this a global warming thing?
B1-67er

mrtn said...

B1-67: Actually, one of the examples Norwegian press loves when it comes to stupid climate change thinking is organic blueberries. So healthy, so natural, so good for you at any time of year... Except they are grown in winter-heated greenhouses consuming ginourmous amounts of energy. If Norway wasn't mostly waterpowered, that would prob. be a problem.

Anonymous said...

I was sooo happy to find your blog. I, too, did a "Google" looking for Deer Mountain Berry jam. It's been the same jam I have eaten ever since I was a little girl. I grew up in Granite Falls where my first job was picking berries at the Deer Mountain Berry Farm. I have MANY fond memories and have continued to purchase their jam and have my own children addicted. Just recently, our local grocery store stopped carrying the jam... that's when I came across your blog.
I am sad to see that it is under a different label. My heart belongs to the old label that I remember seeing in stacks in the garage on the farm.
I guess that "a" label is better than no jam at all.
Again, thanks for helping me out.
Sincerely,
Colleen (aka Granite Girl)

Unknown said...

Of all the Deer Mountain jams, my favorite is the loganberry, but alas and alack :( I am online looking for it because I have had trouble finding it on the shelf lately in our local Seattle QFC stores where I have always purchased it before. I'm so glad to know there are other folks out there willing to go the extra mile to track down their very favorite, mouth-watering jams!
May Deer Mountain live on and on!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for all the great comments about our products. I just wanted to let you all know that we at Deer Mountain are currently building a website www.deermountainpreserves.com. Feel free to visit the site. If there is anything anyone needs, just fill in the "contact us" link. Thanks again, and we appreciate your support.

www.deermountainpreserves.com

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