Recipe for Seasonal Jams in July

Written by Cordy Plymale, Non-Profit Management Intern

The summer months bring plentiful harvest for gardens. This is thanks to a number of supporting
conditions that characterize the season, including the long hours of daylight and warm
temperatures. July in the California Bay Area is no exception, and in fact provides an
exceptionally great opportunity for produce to grow with its nurturing climate and environment.
Fruit is especially abundant during the summertime in California and is thus available to fulfill
our sweet, juicy cravings. In addition to being delicious, fruits also provide many nutrients- such
as potassium, fiber, vitamin C, and folate- that immensely benefit our health. What better way to
put this fresh and nutritious fruit to use than by making your own delicious jam at home? Follow
the simple recipe below using any fruit of your choice.

For reference, here is a list of seasonal fruits in the Bay Area:

● Apricots
● Avocados
● Blackberries
● Blueberries
● Boysenberries
● Cactus pears
● Cherries
● Grapes
● Lemons
● Melons
● Mulberries
● Nectarines
● Oranges
● Peaches
● Plums
● Pluots
● Raspberries
● Strawberries
● Tayberries
● Tomatoes

Jam Recipe

Ingredients:

• Yields: About 1 1⁄2 cups
  ● 1 pound of a fresh fruit of your choice
  ● 1⁄4 cup of sugar
  ● 2 tablespoons of juice of your choice (lemon, apple, grape, etc.)
  ● Optional: pinch of seasonings of your choice (cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, etc.)
  Directions:

1. Crush the fresh fruit in a bowl until mashed.
2. In a medium saucepan, combine mashed fruit with sugar, juice, and seasonings; stir over
   medium-low heat until the sugar dissolves.
3. Increase the heat to bring the mixture to a rolling boil while stirring frequently. Continue
   until the mixture is a thick consistency (this can take between 10 to 30 minutes and will
   end up being around 220 degrees F/105 degrees C). Keep in mind, the mixture will
   continue to thicken as it cools.

• Pro-tip: increase the heat if the mixture looks too watery and decrease the heat if
  it looks too dry.

1. Cool the mixture completely and pour into a jar or sealed container of your choice.
2. Refrigerate and enjoy!

References

Bittman, M. (n.d.). Any Fruit Jam Recipe. NYT Cooking. Retrieved June 25, 2023, from
https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1014990-any-fruit-jam
Foodwise. (2022, August 21). Seasonality Chart: Fruit and Nuts : Foodwise.
https://foodwise.org/eat-seasonally/seasonality-chart-fruit-and-nuts/
Fruits | MyPlate. (n.d.). https://www.myplate.gov/eat-healthy/fruits
Katharine. (2022, October 25). Strawberry Jam. Allrecipes.
https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/38410/strawberry-jam/

Image

Reynolds, T. (2022, August 2). Strawberry Jam – Lepp Farm Market. Lepp Farm Market.
https://www.leppfarmmarket.com/strawberry-jam/