Berry farm a tradition of sweet success

Photo by Harald Hohendorf

CAROL, LEFT, AND BUD MOON MIX UP A BATCH OF JAM.

Berries handpicked at the exact time when the highest level of natural sugar is present means a product with less sugar. “So people are eating berries, they are eating fruit,” Carol Moon stressed. Carol and Melvin “Bud” Moon grow and harvest strawberries, blueberries, red raspberries, Marion berries, boysenberries and Loganberries on their 10-acre farm.

“Our berries are washed and sorted on site, then fresh frozen the same day they are picked. The frozen berries break down more evenly, and result in a better texture. This ensures a consistently high-quality product,” Carol explained. Freezing also ensures a year-round supply of berries to make Puyallup Valley Jam Factory’s products.

The Moons use an instrument called a brix meter to measure the level of natural sugar in the berry. This is how they know when to pick at the peak of ripeness. All berries are handpicked, and this labor-intensive process ensures the highest quality product. “Berries are cooked in small batches, and cooking time is minimized to preserve color and texture,” Bud said. “The jars are hand packed from an open kettle, then shipped to customers all around the globe.” Products contain no preservatives or artificial flavoring or coloring. “You can see the fruit in the jar,” Carol said. The Puyallup Valley Jam Factory’s products include gourmet jams, seedless jams, syrups and a raspberry puree.

The Moons, both Native Americans who hail from the Yurok Tribe and Hupa Tribe of Northern California, met in high school, and have been married for 55 years. They settled in the Puyallup Valley in the late 1960s, and Bud retired from the Navy shortly thereafter. The Moons have been farming berries ever since. “When we started farming berries in the 1960s, we knew very little. The community of berry farmers in the Puyallup Valley worked cooperatively to share farming techniques and support one another’s operations. We are so thankful to all the local farmers that helped us in those early days,” Carol said.

Initially, Moon Farms sold berries to a local cannery, but in the 1980s, Bud realized the need to develop a niche product. “The corporations were coming in, and the trend was to pick berries by machine. The small farmer could not compete. The land was being bought up – there was not land available to buy to expand growing operations,” Bud said. “That is when I realized we needed to go to a vertical marketing approach, and we began using the berries to make gourmet jams. Instead of volume, we shifted our focus entirely to quality.”

The Moons have always been in the fresh-to-market business. “We have been part of the Proctor Farmers Market since it began in 1994, and helped develop the market for the Proctor neighborhood,” Bud said. They also sell berries direct from the farm. “We want customers to call ahead and order,” Carol said. “That way they know what we are picking and when, and they can get exactly what they want.”

Puyallup Valley Jam Factory products are available at a number of local retailers, including Pacific Northwest Shop in Proctor District, H & L produce in Lakewood, Valley Farms (on River Road), QFC in Gig Harbor, Stadium Thriftway, Black Diamond Bakery, Tacoma Boys on Puyallup’s South Hill, Baskets and Things in downtown Puyallup and Exclusively Washington at Pier 54 on the Seattle waterfront. Every year, the Moons participate in the Puyallup Fair. This year, they will be at the fair from Sept. 22-26.

Moon Farms is located at 2615 Tacoma Road, just the other side of the railroad tracks from West Stewart Avenue. To place an order for fresh berries, or to purchase Puyallup Valley Jam Factory products direct from Moon Farms, call (253) 845-0784.

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