Orchard To Jar
Imagine for a moment how it would be to stroll around an orchard, or wander into a grove, colorful and brightened by the seasons of sunshine. And what if you could pause, find the most perfect fruit of the bunch and savor a bite.
While that may not always be possible on account of northern Indiana’s characteristically chaotic weather routines, there is a place tucked away in the heart of Shipshewana that promises to deliver the closest thing to such an experience. It’s a humble storefront with an ambitious mission. They want each and every person who samples their homemade jams and jellies to, as their slogan goes, “Taste the Fruit.”
The family business is known as Scherger’s Kettle, and it is a bustling place where sweet and savory condiments are freshly created, with ingredients procured from local resources. Their products are free of additives and preservatives, which allows the flavors of the fruit to be authentic and bold. For the Scherger family, maintaining this natural approach is more than just a pledge to their customers. It’s a practice that is steeped in history and tradition. The story goes back to the turn of the 20th century and features the tale of an old copper kettle.
David Scherger, who is part of an ownership team that includes his wife, Peggy, and his daughter, Kelly McConnell, had received a precious family heirloom some years ago that set events into motion to lead to the present state of the sweet Scherger enterprise. David was gifted a 50-gallon copper kettle that had been used by his great-grandfather, Anton Scherger. It was where the elder Scherger had made apple butter, created from harvested apples bursting from the trees that Anton himself had planted. That kettle would go on to serve its purpose for three more generations to follow. David, who was greatly influenced by this craft, remembers well assisting with the harvest as a youngster. For him, it’s about more than simply turning out a stellar product. It’s capturing the magic of fond memories.
The good fortunes continued, and in 2004, the Scherger family built an addition to the historic Davis home, which made it possible to expand their production facility. By 2008, the family acquired the building that had formerly housed the Bread Box Bakery and utilized that space for storage.
At the current Scherger’s Kettle site, the kitchen area is a meticulous and well-coordinated endeavor. There are two local Amish women who spend time in the kitchen cooking and processing the fruits and juices into what eventually turns into jams, jellies, marmalades and much more. The fruits are still kettle-cooked, and the ingredients are very basic — fruit, pectin and sugar. The lower-sugar varieties are made with evaporated cane sugar, a perfect option for those who have dietary restrictions.
Once the fruits are expertly cooked, the finished product travels through a series of tubes and gets piped directly into glass jars. The jars are then taken to a refrigerated storage space to cool. Fruits that are obtained out of season are flash-frozen, which ensures that the maximum ripeness and flavor are sealed in.
So what distinguishes a jam from a jelly from a marmalade? Jellies, explains McConnell, are made using only fruit juice, which allows for the smooth, translucent texture. Jams, meanwhile, are made by using the entire fruit, so the resulting product is chunkier, featuring visible pieces of the fruit. Marmalades are similar, but are created using a citrus base, such as lemon or orange.
Store-bought jams, according to David, typically have approximately 35% minimum fruit content. Scherger’s Kettle is proud to offer jams that boast a 45% minimum. The reduced-sugar selections offer a 70% minimum fruit content by weight.
There are several other lines of tantalizing spreads, salsas, raw honey and butters to try from Scherger’s Kettle as well. Some of the more unique and popular flavors include bacon jam, mango salsa and smoky jalapeno tomato chutney. McConnell says that her family often uses some of the savory varieties for cooking and marinades. Another interesting line of products includes marmalades infused with a floral essence, such as blueberry hibiscus and lemon lavender, which have proven to be top sellers as well. When asked how they manage to come up with such creative flavor combinations, McConnell says, “It’s a lot of experimenting and taste testing. Everything we sell is something we’d eat ourselves.”
The Scherger’s Kettle collection is generally sold in retail settings, and they can work with wholesale arrangements as well. The products can also be purchased online at shipshewanajams.com.
For those who would like to stop by and visit Scherger’s Kettle in person, the store is located at 140 1/2 Morton St. in downtown Shipshewana. They are open every day from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m., except for Sundays, when the shop is closed. To reach the business by phone, call 260-768-4629.
