Meet Melissa Gould & Michael Parr of Market Fresh Jam Co

Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Gould & Michael Parr.

Hi Melissa Gould , can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Being hobby gardeners, we have a passion for growing, cooking and creating all things culinary. So in 2023, we decided to reserve a spot at our local Farmer’s Market, as an avenue to sell excess produce and herbs from our home gardens, that historically produce more veggies than we know what to do with.

However, Ohio weather was far from ideal that year and left us with very little excess produce and empty table space to fill. We stocked our booth with fresh and dried herbs, sea glass jewelry, fresh baked goods, and a small selection of homemade jams and barbeque sauces, along with whatever excess produce our garden had given us that week.

Pretty quickly, we realized that our community was LOVING our homemade jams. And so….Market Fresh Jam Co. was born! We let our creativity run wild and take immense pride in our unique flavor combinations, our TOASTED line of alcohol infused jams and our signature STACKED line of layered jams!

As the farmers market season was coming to a close, our Jam Fans wanted to know how they could get their fix when coming to the Market each week was no longer an option. Through these conversations, our customers connected us with other local businesses and we are now reaching customers through local Artisan Marketplaces, bakeries, wineries and vendor events.

We also leverage the power of social media to engage with and attract followers and have reached over 1,000 followers in less than two years.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Honestly, it’s been a fun learning experience. Jam making, at its core, is science. Learning how to perfect the nuance of each recipe has been fun, but can be challenging at times.

One small, occasional point of contention has been show day setup. We’re both passionate and opinionated, which can lead to disagreements on things like how early to arrive or which jams go where? While certainly an obstacle in the moment, those are always an opportunity to reflect upon and laugh at the overall insignificance after a successful event.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
We believe that our commitment to using quality, in season produce and our creativity sets us apart from other jam makers. You know you are doing something right when you start seeing your unique flavor combinations and theme being duplicated by other makers. We take pride in the products we offer and genuinely enjoy connecting with each and every person we meet through Market Fresh Jam Co.

Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
We are extremely grateful for the support our of customers who are passionate about supporting local small businesses. It is inspiring and genuinely means the world to us that people chose our product over national brands and share our product with their friends and family.

One thing we find a little frustrating is how often local support tends to go toward long-established businesses — even when newer, high-quality spots are offering something really special. There’s a strong sense of nostalgia here, and while that’s part of what gives Akron its charm, it can sometimes make it tough for fresh, innovative businesses to break through. We’ve seen so many passionate local entrepreneurs pour their hearts into something great, only to struggle for the recognition they deserve. We’re incredibly grateful for those who champion us and other small businesses, and I truly believe that if more Akronites gave new ventures a chance, it would spark even more growth, flavor, and community pride in the region.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.marketfreshjam.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marketfreshjam?igsh=YnpobTJkaHFmY3Fh
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/12LfDLPxo1R/