JESSA’S JAMS
Our Story
Making jam is so much more to me than fruit and sugar in a jar. It’s about artistry, connection, and legacy.
My Grams, my most favorite woman in the world (besides my momma), was a huge inspiration for me. From a young age, I remember going with her to pick-your-owns, spending hours in the fields gathering fresh produce. Those moments made me feel deeply connected — to nature, to the food, and to her. Grams had a gift: she always shared her kitchen creations generously with everyone, whether friends, family, or strangers.
While Grams never made jam, my momma did. She would take the fruit we picked and transform it into beautiful jars of jam, always giving them away with love. My ‘recipe’ isn’t hers, but her wisdom guides me every time I step into the kitchen. She’s always said, “a recipe is there for guidance” — and that’s what she’s been for me, not just in cooking but in life.
From these two incredible women, I learned to respect food, to transform it, and most importantly, to share it. That’s why Jessa’s Jams exists. Each small batch I make is crafted with minimal, honest ingredients, allowing the fruit to shine in its purest form. Every jar carries a piece of my heart and a piece of their legacy.
For me, jam is not just something to spread on toast. It’s a way to connect, to remember, and to bring people together — one spoonful at a time.
WHERE JESSA'S JAMS BEGAN
One Saturday morning, while working at the beachside farmers market, my boss walked over holding a flat of Plant City strawberries.
"Can you do something with these?" He said.
I looked down, a little confused. ‘What do you mean?’
"They're old."
‘Old?’
They had been picked on Wednesday. It was Saturday. To me, they weren't old at all. They simply weren't considered market-worthy anymore. I couldn't bear the thought of seeing beautiful Florida strawberries go to waste, so I took them home.
I immediately called my mom and asked, “can I make jam with fresh strawberries, little sugar, and fresh lemon juice?"
Her answer was simple. "Yes. Figure it out."
So I did.
I washed the entire flat in white vinegar, carefully pruned away any spots, and tasted a few along the way. I chopped, diced, and chopped some more. My knife cuts weren’t perfect, but they didn’t have to be. I added a little sugar and a squeeze of lemon, then let the strawberries macerate. I started cooking them low and slow. I tasted again. I continued to let them cook, slowly watching the strawberries transform. The smell was amazing.
Slowly, something beautiful began to happen.
Not just in the pot. In me.
That very first batch gave me the confidence to trust my instincts, and before I knew it, Jessa's Jams had quietly begun.
Why Every Batch Is Different
People often ask me for my recipes. The truth is...I don't have one.
Every batch begins with the fruit. Some strawberries are sweeter than others.
Some peaches need a little more time.
Some figs have incredible honeyed notes all on their own.
All fruit ripens when it is ready depending on the season and where it comes from, so every batch requires something slightly different.
My job isn't to make every jar taste exactly the same.
My job is to let every fruit taste like the very best version of itself. That's why I taste every batch throughout the cooking process, slowly adding organic cane sugar and fresh-squeezed lemon juice, possibly a pinch of pink Himalayan salt, until the fruit shines exactly as it should.
From My Table to Yours
Today, I have the privilege of working with incredible growers, local farms, backyard fruit trees, and seasonal harvests throughout Florida and beyond.
Every jar represents more than preserving fruit. It represents supporting local agriculture whenever possible. It represents reducing waste by giving beautiful produce another purpose. It represents slowing down enough to appreciate what each season has to offer.
Most of all, it represents sharing. The same lesson my Grams and my momma quietly taught me all those years ago.
My hope is that every jar becomes part of your story—a quiet morning with coffee, a family breakfast, a thoughtfully prepared charcuterie board, or a gift shared with someone you love.
Because to me, jam has never simply been something to spread on toast.
It's a way to bring people together.
I'm so glad you're here. Grab a jar of jam — there's always room at The Table.