Big Pharma.. Big Jamma... Actual Jam Taste Tests

Changing lifestyle:

The last several years, we decided to live a more sustainable lifestyle and only eat organic foods.  Also, when we are ill, we have tried to use herbs and natural medicinal products for our healing regime.  Big Pharma, as Jim Cramer from Mad Money named them, is so involved in our health system these days and I am concerned.   Have you noticed the warnings on your medicines??  Most of the time, a medicine from Big Pharma has so many wild side effects, why would you want to take it?  For instance that medicine for restless leg syndrome, which is advertised heavily on TV, I am concerned! First it came on really loud and on the commercial, at the end, a man talking really fast blasted me with:  "Side effects include becoming obsessive-compulsive and gambling.." Conclusion: So you have a leg ache, you take Big Pharma medicine, you wake up in Vegas gambling like a maniac.  Side effects gambling?

Unless you win, just say no to BIG PHARMA.. I am just saying...

Big Pharma.. Big Jamma.

Same song, different company..   At Kraft, Smuckers, or any large jelly and jam company, the products are made in huge batches, which spoils the wonderful flavors of the fruit.. Plus most people making jams at markets are using frozen fruit, which again, spoils the flavor.  Last year, I visited two jam factories, no names mentioned.  One factory was in Branson, Missouri and this company sold a lot of jams, jellies, and butters each year.   I purchased a jar of jam from this company for my own taste test and comparison.  At the factory, I quizzed one of the workers to ask them where they purchased their fruit and if it was organic.  The answer was shocking:  He said,

" At the local grocery store and no, it is not organic." After I returned home, I opened this jar of $7.99 jar of jam..After the first taste, I concluded I had wasted my money as I tasted very little fruit, a lot of sugar, and lots of water.  This company informed me they sold $600,000 dollars of this jam last year at Christmas.  I was amazed anyone would buy this liquid, tasteless product after my taste test.  I decided I would only use fresh organic produce we grow or produce grown organically at my new jam company.  Another solution to produce the yummiest jams possible was to utilize wild berries, fruits, and cacti available in the Southwest to use in our products.  The wild berries and fruits are packed with flavor.  At the Farmer's Market last week, my biggest request was for Wild Plum Jelly, which was quickly sold out.  Next year, I have to beat the birds and animals to those plums, as most of the plum trees were picked clean by July.

 From other research on grocery store fruits and vegetables, I learned most of the produce is sprayed with chemicals.. The apple you eat from the store, unless it is from an certified organic farm, is laced with chemicals.  Pesticides are detected in 7 of every 10 fruit and vegetable samples.  The 12 most contaminated fruits and vegetables (the “Dirty Dozen”) are contaminated with an average of 10 different pesticides, with many tainting more than one type of produce.  These facts motivated me to quit buying fruit or vegetables at the grocery store unless it was organic.  With the growth of the Farmer's Markets in this area, I discovered it is much easier to find really great produce.  Borger's Farmers Market was very small, yet many vendors sold impressive produce, meats, and cheeses.  I am excited!

Next Taste Test locally:

 I traveled to Big Texan last week and purchased a jar of cactus jelly, no names mentioned.  On the ingredients of this cactus jelly, the last ingredient listed was malic acid??? Here is the research results I found on Malic Acid: Malic acid, when added to food products, is denoted by E number E296. Malic acid is the source of extreme tartness in USA-produced confectionery, the so-called extreme candy. It is also used with or in place of the less sour citric acid in sour sweets and Salt & Vinegar-flavor potato chips. These sweets are sometimes labeled with a warning stating that excessive consumption can cause irritation of the mouth.  Oh my goodness!  Check labels.. it is important.

When I tasted this 4 oz. jar of jelly, which was $7.99, it tasted like jellied, sugared, watery, chemicals… YEP.. Some friends also did a taste test for me, and Jams Gone Wild cactus jelly won hands down.  I believe the difference in taste comes from making small batches and using quality produce in the products.   If you have a jar of commercially prepared jelly, please look at the ingredients to see what you are eating.  I believe some of our health problems are directly related to the chemicals in our processed foods.   At Jams Gone Wild, we use only the freshest organically grown ingredients and prepare our products 7-10 jars at a time.:) They are YUMMY!