Fruitful Enterprise: Parkersburg Business, Putnam County Farm Team for Jam Sessions | News, sports, jobs

Brad Gritt, of Buffalo, W.Va., and Andrea Duke, of Parkersburg’s In A Jam, pick pineapples in Buffalo. The two businesses teamed up to use pineapples grown in a greenhouse on the farm for use in a specialty pineapple jam created by Duke. The hustle is on the farm this Saturday at the Buried Vintage Market event at the Wood County 4-H grounds on Reacher Bend Road in Mineral Wells. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

Parkersburg – Pineapple jam made from pineapples grown in West Virginia…

A collaboration between Grit Farm of Buffalo, WA and In A Jam of Parkersburg has resulted in the creation of what representatives from both groups feel is unique in promoting West Virginia food products.

The two companies came together to produce a limited edition pineapple jam using pineapples grown on the Grit Farm.

“I try to make jams and jellies made with locally grown fruits.” said Andrea Duke, owner of A Jam.

She met Brad Grit with Grit Farm several years ago and sold some produce to the farm.

Parkersburg Jam has created a special limited edition pineapple from pineapples grown at Grit Farm in Buffalo, WA (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

“(Gritt’s Farm) took on a project a couple of years ago to grow a pineapple crop in one of their greenhouses and they were successful at it.” Duke said. “They approached me about making pineapple jam and collaborating together.

“They grow pineapples, I go down and we pick them and put together this locally grown pineapple product.”

At A Jam, it started as a hobby and then became a business in 2016. It started with a few strawberry jams at the local farmers market and has now grown to nearly 20 varieties of jam available in many regions of the US. And jellies are prepared in small quantities.

Duke had never made pineapple jam before and wondered if she could make it and how it would turn out. It turned out to be successful without much work to bring the process to completion.

“It was something new.” She said. “I was terrified of him. I had no idea how consistency worked or how it was set up, but it was great.

Parkersburg Jam has created a special limited edition pineapple from pineapples grown at Grit Farm in Buffalo, WA. H yard on Reacher Bend Road in Mineral Wells. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

“The test set came out perfect.”

Brad Grit, general manager of Grit Farms, said they’ve been doing hydroponics in greenhouses since the 1980s, and for the past few years they’ve been growing citrus fruits, lemons, limes, grapefruit and more.

It took them two years to grow their pineapples and the fruit was ripening this year.

Pineapple groves have the potential to produce more pineapples per year, said Alexandra Pfost, Marketing and Agritourism Manager for Grit Farm. They were looking at the best ways to get it into the hands of many people.

Grit met the Duke in 2018 and did some work for him in connection with the wedding, and she thought that jamming would be the best use for the grown pineapples.

Duke made 200 jars of jam for sale on the farm on April 8.

“They sold him a little that day.” She said.

It has been well received by their customers and described as “sweet” In some of their customers, Gritt said.

“It’s a special product.” he said. “We’re always looking for fun things to do with food.”

Gritt’s Farms is hosting a farm dinner this month where the chef will include some pineapple jam in one of the dishes. Gritt said tickets for that dinner are already sold out.

There are enough pineapples left to make another 150 jars, bringing the total up to 350 jars, Duke said.

They contacted me and we’re going to do more with what’s left. She said. “It’s very limited, but it was an opportunity to bring two small West Virginia businesses together and make this product that you wouldn’t normally be able to make in West Virginia.”

Since pineapples take two years to grow, Gritt and Duke said it could be another two years or more before they can jam again.

It was important for Duke to do this project because her entire business is based on good West Virginia produce and as part of the West Virginia Grown Program with the state Department of Agriculture.

“It was a unique opportunity to be able to work with another business and do something that people would enjoy that is not normally available in our area.” She said.

It also ties into Grit Farm’s mission to bring unique products and experiences to the people of West Virginia, Pfost said.

“Growing pineapples is another part of Grit Farm’s story and speaks to the family’s new experiences,” she said. “Gritt’s Farm is proud to try new things, support local businesses and create unique experiences right here in its home state.

Stock available, while supplies last, online at www.grittsfarm.com.

Duke will have some pineapple jam Saturday at a vintage market event at the Wood County 4-H grounds on Reacher Bend Road in Mineral Wells. Jamu costs $8.99 per jar. She also has some other varieties of jam.

Brett Dunlap can be reached at bdunlap@newsandsentinel.com.