Celebrities

The mystery of Meghan Markle's jam

Published 3 weeks ago on Feb 16, 2025

The Sticky Saga of Meghan's Jam: A Royal Mystery Unfolds.

The Duchess of Sussex's highly anticipated lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchard, has been shrouded in secrecy, particularly concerning its flagship product: gourmet strawberry jam. With the debut of her Netflix docuseries, With Love, Meghan, just around the corner, questions abound about the jam's origins, production, and even its existence. The mystery deepens as local farmers and jam producers near the Sussexes' Montecito home claim to know nothing about its creation.

Meghan first teased her American Riviera Orchard jam in April 2024, sending personalized jars to celebrity friends like Chrissy Teigen and Abigail Spencer. These elegant jars, adorned with Meghan's calligraphy and tied with delicate ribbons, exuded an air of homemade luxury. However, this image of artisanal craftsmanship is now being challenged by the realities of large-scale production.

"There's no way that she's slaving for hours over a hot stove stirring steaming strawberries," commented one industrial jam producer. "And I doubt she's setting up an industrial kitchen in her home." The prevailing theory is that Meghan is utilizing a co-packer, a common practice in the food industry where a third-party company handles sourcing, production, packaging, and labeling. Yet, a survey of major co-packagers in Southern California revealed that none are currently working on Meghan's jam.

This lack of information extends to local farmers and small-batch jam makers in the Montecito area. "We have no knowledge whatsoever," stated Molly Gean of Harry's Berries, a local farm known for its gourmet preserves. This widespread ignorance raises concerns about the sourcing of the fruit and the location of production.

The use of the "American Riviera" moniker, referring to the Santa Barbara region, adds another layer of complexity. Trademark and intellectual property lawyer Michael Cohen explained, "Products or services need to come from or originate from the place as identified in the name of the trademark." This raises questions about whether Meghan's jam is truly locally sourced and produced, especially given the lack of local knowledge. Adding to the intrigue, reports suggest that Meghan has faced challenges in securing the trademark for her brand.

The limited run of 50 jars sent to friends last year offered no clues about sourcing or manufacturing, further fueling speculation. The absence of "locally grown" or "locally manufactured" labels on those jars has been noted by observers.

The mystery surrounding the jam's production coincides with the upcoming launch of "Netflix House" stores in Dallas and Philadelphia, which will sell merchandise linked to various Netflix shows, including With Love, Meghan. A source hinted that some of Meghan's products would be available in these stores, raising the question of whether the products are even ready for sale. "Those stores won't open for several months," the source noted. "So the question is: Where is she going to sell the products, and does she even have products ready to sell?"

Adding to the speculation, Meghan recently departed the Invictus Games in Canada earlier than expected, leaving Prince Harry to attend the closing ceremony alone. The official reason given was her planned return to Montecito to be with her children. However, some sources suggest that she returned to focus on her product line. One source even proposed that Meghan might launch her company under the "With Love, Meghan" logo, although this could potentially involve a revenue-sharing agreement with Netflix.

The lack of official comment from both Archewell and Netflix has only intensified the mystery. The silence surrounding the jam's production, the trademark issues, and the timing of the Netflix series launch has created a breeding ground for rumors and speculation.

Beyond the jam, other controversies swirl around the Sussexes. Nile Gardiner of The Heritage Foundation has called for transparency regarding Prince Harry's immigration application, particularly concerning past drug use. "The American people have a right to know whether or not Harry was honest on his application," Gardiner stated. Samuel Dewey, a lawyer for The Heritage Foundation, confirmed that their case is being taken seriously and that they are awaiting new information.

The intertwined narratives of Meghan's jam, her Netflix series, and the ongoing scrutiny of the Sussexes' activities have created a complex and captivating story. As the launch date of With Love, Meghan approaches, the public eagerly awaits answers to the many questions surrounding the Duchess's foray into the world of lifestyle branding. Whether the jam lives up to the hype, where it truly comes from, and how it fits into Meghan's larger business ambitions remain to be seen. The sticky saga of Meghan's jam is a royal mystery that continues to unfold.

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