We have recieved a number of thoughtful letters in recent months, several of which ask, in essentially the same polite terms, a version of the same question: is Almost Fruit, strictly speaking, fruit?

We would like to address this directly. We think the readers who wrote to us deserve a direct answer, and we think our silence has been, on reflection, a little conspicuous.

The short answer

Yes. Mostly. In many cases. When available.

The slightly longer answer

Our preserves were conceived, from the beginning, as a faithful rendering of the fruit they honor. What 'faithful' means has evolved. In 1987, it meant: fruit, sugar, pectin, patience. In 1994, it meant: fruit, sugar, pectin, and a small number of supporting ingredients added in response to what we learned about shelf stability and transit. In 2003, our supply chain widened considerably, and with it so did the supporting cast.

By 2012 we had, frankly, lost track of precisely where the line between 'fruit-based' and 'fruit-adjacent' should be drawn. We now prefer the word 'inspired by', which is more legally defensible and, we think, more honest in spirit.

"It doesn't have to be fruit to be almost fruit."

Our founder said this, in 1987, and we have returned to it often. At the time it was a joke. We have come to take it seriously.

What we would like you to know

Every jar of Almost Fruit still contains at least some of the fruit on the label. In certain varieties — Almost Apricot, Almost Peach, the marmalade — it contains a great deal. In others, it contains a more notional amount. We do not think this makes the preserve less pleasant to eat. It does, however, make it less expensive to produce, and we pass the savings on to you.

We remain committed to making the best almost-fruit preserve in the country. We think we are succeeding. We hope you agree, and we hope this letter has cleared up any confusion.

If not, please write to us. We read every letter, and usually answer within two business days, though this one has been unusually long in preparation.

— With every good wish, The Almost Fruit Kitchen