This week I became aware that I have been regularly selling preserves at the Lochgilphead Farmers’ Market for 6 years now! I find it hard to believe it’s that long already. I do recall at the first market I was fair chuffed to have sold a handful of jars. Since then I’ve invested in a van and a sturdy gazebo to manage the volume that we are transporting.
But it remains a fundamentally small entity. I am still cooking all the preserves myself at home in my kitchen. I have increased the range of products I’m making, but as storage is an issue I occasionally have to make the decision to drop one of the less popular items. So far, each time I’ve done, that someone complains and I end up making ‘just one small batch’ of said item .
The picture above demonstrates just a portion of my range. I have over 40 different preserves - but still I’m asked for honey! I do wonder if people understand the vastly different processes required to obtain a big pan of honey? It sort of involves bees rather than fruits 😂. One other recurring theme is piccalilli. It’s not something I’m terribly fond of myself hence my reluctance to make it. However if enough people have read this far and request it I will make some this summer. One of my personal favourite products is the Sweet & Sour Pickled Cucumbers. I always have to make extra for personal use. I have Zelda Mes, of Tayvallich Cafe and General Store, to thank for that. Zelda provided me with the recipe and guided me with the size and shape the cucumber should be sliced. She told me that she wanted it to serve in burgers at the cafe,but we have discovered that it’s equally delicious added to a salad or to top off a cooked pizza! We now always have a jar on the go in the fridge.
Apricot season seemed slow to start this year, and I had completely run out of apricot jam. However they are now available again and I have already made a couple of pans full in anticipation of the big orders I get for Lucy’s Ardfern. She also has vast quantities of Raspberry jam, but that’s less of a logistical problem as raspberries are available all year round. As a change this year Lucy’s is also stocking, amongst other things, Rhubarb and Strawberry jam. It is a less common combination but hails back to the era when my Mum was a little girl.
Marmalade Deli, in Lochgilphead High Street started stocking my products in the past year. It’s really good fun getting those orders in, as they are so random! It is really convenient as it’s so close it is easy to deliver frequently to match the turnover. The Deli is able to have a wide variety of products because I’m able to supply each in small numbers or single jars if required.
See you all at the Farmers’ Market in the Co-operative car park in Lochgilphead on Saturday (June 8th) …
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