Jeddy Nevells knew something had to
change the day her husband was diagnosed with diabetes in 2011. “He needed to
change his life and he started to use sugar-free products,” she said, noting
that many of the sugar-free jams and jellies contain a lot of preservatives.
Jeddy tried sweetening her foods and cooking with unfiltered, raw honey which
didn’t affect his blood sugar like processed sugar. Then she started making
jam. 
It took one year for her to figure out a
recipe that worked. Then she became licensed by the state and with her kitchen
license she opened Naturally Jammin’. During the first year, Jeddy’s husband,
Mike, lost 150 pounds. Today, down 165 pounds, Mike is no longer considered a
diabetic.
“To know you’re helping people and they
enjoy it, what more inspiration do you need,” Jeddy said.
Although Naturally Jammin’ has not done
any scientific testing, the feedback has been tremendous. “Sixty plus diabetics
are able to use my products and it does not affect them,” said Jeddy. From what
she has found, the honey disburses differently in the body compared to
processed sugar.
“My product is different. No one else
sweetens with honey,” Jeddy said.
Another mother bought the jam for her
son who loved peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, but couldn’t have the jelly
due to his ADHD. She bought the jam for him and gave him a thin coat of jelly
on his sandwich and it didn’t affect him adversely. He made the next sandwich
heaping the jam on, according to Jeddy, and again, there was no noticeable
effect. The mom was sold.
Naturally Jammin’ sells 10 products up
from the three she started with.
This season’s big sellers are pumpkin
butter, apple butter, and peaches and scream (which contains hot pepper
flakes). Jeddy has created all of the flavors herself and sells them at area
craft fairs (this year she’ll be at USM in Gorham, Bonny Eagle and Augusta) and
at a few farmers markets. She has a permanent display at the Saco River Winter
Market, where she and Mike also do demonstrations. She also is on shelves at
area stores like Whole Foods in Portland.
She works three or four days a week from
8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. making jam.
Naturally Jammin’ is hoping to become a
household name though the Martha Stewart American Made Awards where she is a
finalist in the food category. She found out about being a finalist while at
the Cumberland Fair craft show. “How do you control the emotions in front of a
whole bunch of people?” she asked. By taking a break and dancing out of sight
of her fellow cooks.
“Even if I don’t win, only a handful out
of the State of Maine were chosen. I’ll be happy for them.” The 10 winners out
of 800 finalists and 200 wildcard entries share $200,000 and that $10,000 in
cash can be used to help build their businesses. The winners earn a trip for
two to New York City and get incredible exposure for their product on the
Martha Stewart website, Ebay account and advertising on Martha’s SIRUS radio
station, according to Jeddy. “You spend two days with her,” which in
invaluable.
Voting continues at www.marthastewart.com
until October 13 and the winners are announced on October 17.
“I want to spread this jam throughout
New England. That’s my goal to get out there in the market so people can enjoy
it,” Jeddy said.
Jeddy and Mike also have some of their
own bees that they collect honey from. A family friend is a master beekeeper
and has been teaching them as they go along. Jeddy uses between 60 and 80
pounds of honey every two weeks, so she also has to buy honey from area distributors. One bee produces 1/12 of a teaspoon in its lifetime, she
said.
For the last few months, Jeddy has had
to take on help for her business. Her younger daughter, Alysha, is working
part-time and will be added full-time soon. Jeddy also hopes her older
daughter, Christel, will work with her in the future.
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