New from my kitchen spring 2024

Late Spring Chronicles
A Bumper Crop of Rhubarb
The recent spring rains and cooler temperatures have created the ideal conditions for rhubarb this year. We've spent countless hours chopping, cooking, and preserving rhubarb in a variety of flavors. We are delighted to announce that our shelves are stocked with enough rhubarb jam to last well into the winter months.
Frost Damage in British Columbia
We also have some unfortunate news. This past January, the Okanagan Valley experienced an extreme cold snap, with temperatures dropping to -29°C. This sudden freeze significantly impacted fruit buds, especially on peach trees. As a result, we will see a limited harvest of local cherries, apricots, peaches, nectarines, and some plum and apple varieties this summer. The pear trees appear to have weathered the cold better, and we should have a good supply of local pears.
Supporting Our Community
You may have noticed apricots, peaches, and cherries in supermarkets around town. These fruits are sourced from California, where the climate spared them from such severe cold. After much consideration, we’ve decided not to use these fruits to make our beloved summer preserves.


While we normally prioritize using sun-ripened fresh fruit for its peak sweetness and aroma, supporting our local farming community is also a top priority. Due to this year's challenging harvest in the Okanagan Valley, we've sourced some certified organic frozen stone fruit – sugar plums, apricots, and cherries – from the Similkameen Valley for our preserves.


What to Expect
While using frozen stone fruit is a new approach for us, we are committed to maintaining the high quality and delightful taste you expect from our products. You might notice a slight difference in the color and texture of our preserves. Frozen fruit tends to break down more during cooking, resulting in a smoother consistency and perhaps a less vibrant hue. However, rest assured that the flavor will remain as delicious as ever.
We appreciate your understanding and continued support as we navigate these challenges. Your loyalty helps us support local farmers and our small artisan preserving company.


Upcoming Preserves
We are excited to announce that our first plum and apricot preserves will start being available in early July. From then until the end of September, you can expect a variety of flavors to be released. We look forward to sharing these new creations with you and hope they bring a taste of summer to your table.
New Honey-Sweetened Jams
We've heard your requests for more honey-sweetened jams, and we're excited to announce new additions to our lineup. Our red currant and strawberry jam with lemon balm, gently sweetened with honey, is now available. Look forward to a plum jam sweetened with honey coming soon. Featuring a lower sugar content and a pleasant tartness, these jams offer a delightful balance of flavors.


Where to find me this summer:
This summer, you can find me at three different farmers markets. I'll be alternating between the West End Market and Trout Lake Market on Saturdays, and on Sundays, I'll be at the Kitsilano Market. For a detailed schedule, please check herehttps://www.lemeadowspantry.com/farmers-markets.html. I hope to see you at a market this summer!