Merchant Spotlight • 3 Generations Jam
One of the great joys of running a community-centered business is getting to know and work with the myriad creative makers and crafters who reside in our region and make up our merchant base. This quarterly post spotlights some of these talented folks and their inspiring, nourishing, creative endeavors.
When it comes to products that truly reflect the flavors of the region, fruit jam ranks right up there. Jam features prominently in many of our curated gift boxes, and it’s a top-selling item in our custom gifts, too. 3 Generations Jam has been supplying us with their delectable jams since the very beginning. One of my favorite tasks is meeting Becca at the Bellingham Farmer’s Market, bright and early on a Saturday morning, to retrieve our orders.
3 Generations Jam was started in 2012 in Greenbank, WA on Whidbey Island, by Jan and Becca (a mother-daughter team); and Charlotte (soon joined by baby Josephine), Becca’s daughters and jam makers in training. We built our own Certified Kitchen and moved our base of operations to Anacortes in 2016. As the years have flown past, Charlotte and Josie have grown up a bit (Charlotte just turned 13 in November, and Josie is about to turn 10!) and they help with labeling and stocking, and occasionally at the markets. Sadly, Jan, the First Generation, Partner, beloved Mother and Grandmother, passed away in 2019. Now Becca runs the business, with the help of one employee (ironically also named Becca). Becca’s Dad, Pete, still runs things for her down on Whidbey Island, doing the Bayview Farmers Market, and wholesale deliveries during the summer months. We make small batch Artisan Jams and Syrups from local, clean, and/or certified organic fruit which we purchase primarily from farmers we know and trust in the nearby Skagit Valley and Eastern Washington. As always, our jams are made to highlight the amazing flavors of all the fresh fruits grown here in Washington State. To ensure their purity of flavors, we use only local fruits, minimal amounts of pure cane sugar, a splash of organic lemon juice, and a bit of fruit pectin.
Principle of 3’s
3 Generations Jam has an impressive array of fruit jams, but the three we keep in regular stock are the Raspberry, Triple Berry, and Honeyed Pear. We love this company’s principles of local, natural and sustainable.
How long have you been in business and how did you learn your craft?
We've been in business for 11 years. I grew up making Jam with my mother, as she did with hers. We started with our basic recipes, then refined them and gradually expanded our flavor options. I take flavor inspiration from other jam makers, customers’ suggestions, and what I think just sounds good.
What is the guiding principle/mission of your business?
We really strive to support other local businesses by obtaining as much of our fruit as possible from local growers. I studied Sustainable Agriculture in University, so I also look for farmers that are either certified organic, or are treating their land and crops in a sustainable and clean manner. Additionally, we prefer to use as little added sugar as I possible, so the true flavor of the fruit really shines through.
Share your favorite or best-selling product in your shop. Why is it a favorite?
Fruit syrups are sold at markets, as well, as a by-product of the jams.
I actually have two favorite jams that I go back to over and over again for my morning toast; Raspberry Rhubarb and Apricot. The Raspberry Rhubarb is a nice tart jam and Apricot just has so much flavor packed into it and a tinge of almost bitterness/tartness to it that I just love.
In what ways, big or small, do you apply sustainability in your business practices?
We try in so many ways to reduce our impact! All our food waste is composted, and all of our cardboard is recycled when we're done with it, I use compostable packing peanuts for shipping our online orders, all of our products are packaged in glass jars that we happily accept back and can be reused. This year I also signed up with Ridwell, so we are now able to recycle almost all of the plastic that we use, and I'm super excited about that!
What is your favorite place to spend time in the region? Why is it special to you?
Check out the Friends of the Anacortes Community Forest Lands
Oh this is a hard one, there are so many magical places in Washington. I live in Anacortes now, and have always loved the San Juans. I grew up going up to Orcas every summer with my family and just have so many wonderful memories of the beaches there. Now that I have kids, we spend a lot of time in the woods of the Anacortes Forest Lands walking trails and exploring and I love it here too.
Where can customers find you, and what are some ways they can show their support?
Well, we are at four Farmers Markets all summer (Bellingham, Anacortes, Bayview, Everett), and three winter markets (Bellingham, Anacortes, Edmonds). Additionally, there are several small business, like Madrona Gifts, that sell our jam. Probably the best way to find us is to look on the website here.
Gratitude to Becca and 3 Generations Jam for their contributions to our business and our greater community, and for their stewardship of the planet we all share!