Hood River, Ore. — A product featuring rare, domestically-grown quince, will debut this February. Mostly found throughout Asia and Europe, quince cultivation is uncommon in the United States, making this Quince Fruit Pate very possibly the only product featuring a domestic version of the fruit available at national and regional food retailers.
In an effort to bring home the rich history found in European food traditions, Oregon Growers — a farm-direct specialty foods maker based in Hood River, Ore. — will soon release the Quince Fruit Pate alongside two additionally new products, Strawberry Fig Fruit Pate and Pear & Hazelnut Fruit Pate. The seasonal products will be available through late summer at New Seasons and Market of Choice as well as online.
“This is the first domestically-grown quince product that we have ever carried, and I haven’t seen it anywhere else besides online or in small specialty food shops either,” said Ruth Taggert, Specialty Cheese Merchandiser for Market of Choice. “We are excited to bring these unique products to our customers in time for spring’s reawakening. The entertaining, picnics
and outdoor events that the season brings will surely aid in their success.”
The Quince Fruit Pate was created as a cousin to membrillo — a mainstay in Spanish cuisine that is traditionally served alongside cheese, typically manchego. Its unique flavor will not only bring life to any cheese plate, but the packaging — a sleek glass jar with a bold silver cap — is a colorful addition. The Strawberry Fig Fruit Pate and Pear & Hazelnut Fruit Pate are also condiments to be served with cheese.
“We are participating in a new artisanal food movement, much like the evolution of domestically-produced cheese and wine. Fifty years ago, you could only get quality cheese and wine if it was imported from Europe, which is no longer the case,” said Oregon Growers’ founder, David Gee. “Rather than bringing quince in from Europe, we can use the small amount
that is available to us here, while continuing to honor the fruit as the Europeans do.”
The preparation of each pate is simple but time consuming. The flavors of the fruits are distilled by carefully cooking the fresh fruit for several hours in order to reduce the water content and increase the natural sugars found within the fruit. This creates a highlyconcentrated, semi-firm fruit product featuring dense spread-ability.
Oregon Growers’ New Product Descriptions:
Quince Fruit Pate
Whole quince are cooked and milled into a smooth puree. Sugar and lemon are then added and cooked carefully for several hours so that the sugars gently caramelize, adding a rich amber hue and gentle sweetness.
Suggested Cheese Pairings: Pleasant Ridge Reserve / Uplands Dairy (Wis.), San Andreas / Bellwether Farms (Calif.), Vella Dry Jack / Vella Cheese Company (Calif.), Aged Manchego (Spain).
Strawberry Fig Fruit Pate
The bright flavors of ripe Oregon strawberries are balanced by earthy figs to create a smooth condiment that is perfect for cheese plates.
Suggested Cheese Pairings: Mt Tam / Cowgirl Creamery (Calif.), Sea Stack / Mt. Townsend Creamery (Wash.), Carmody / Bellwether Farms (Calif.), Pierre Robert (France).
Pear & Hazelnut Fruit Pate
Ripe Oregon Bartlett pears combine with locally roasted hazelnuts to create a unique condiment to complement a favorite cheese.
Suggested Cheese Pairings: Oregon Blue / Rouge Creamery (Ore.), Great Hill Blue / Great Hill Dairy (Mass.), Point Reyes Blue / Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese (Calif.), Fourme d’Ambert (France)
Oregon Growers makes farm-direct specialty foods that highlight fresh, in-season produce straight from the Hood River valley. Its award-winning product line — including jams, fruit butters, a specialty chutney, honeys, Pendleton® barbecue sauces, hazelnuts and now fruit pates — is created by combining products from local farmers that utilize the most sustainable growing practices with meticulous quality control. The small company, based in Hood River, Ore., has national distribution, with presence in stores such as Whole Foods, New Seasons, QFC and more. For uniquely Oregon gourmet food gifts, more information and access to creative recipes, please visit www.oregongrowers.com.
Source: Oregon Growers & Shippers
