Monthly Archives: September 2014

How sweet is this?

Priscilla Wegers, copy editor for my magazine, recently gave me this sweet little box of Mary Jane taffy. Now made by Necco, the company that gave us Necco Wafers, Clark Bars, and more, this candy has been around since 1914, first manufactured by the Charles N. Miller Company. It was a favorite penny candy sold in general stores in the first half of the 1900s.

I’d seen the individually wrapped little nuggets of peanut-butter taffy chews before, but I hadn’t ever seen the little box. Miller named the candy after his favorite aunt, Mary Jane, and the same illustration of little Mary Jane has appeared on the wrappers since 1914.

According to the Necco website. “Through the years, countless school children learned about the midnight ride of Paul Revere. Those same kids would run out of school to the closest store and buy as many Mary Jane candies as their pocket change would permit. Little did they know, the lesson they just learned and the delicious sweet they were about to unwrap had a common history. Miller got his start by making candies with his father in their Boston home, a home whose previous owner happened to be Paul Revere. And coincidentally, today we make these favorite chews in the Massachusetts city of Revere!”

Thanks for this sweet little piece of Mary Jane history, Priscilla.

I might add that Mary Jane candy is the reason my business name, MaryJanesFarm, doesn’t have an apostrophe or spaces. Mary Jane was already trademarked so I couldn’t be Mary Jane’s Farm or even MaryJane’s Farm. Once I turned all three words into a stylized “logo” of sorts, I was able to use my name, MaryJane, as part of my business name. Also, there’s a Mary Jane Bread, that’s been a mainstay for many years in the South, that I couldn’t infringe upon.

 

Now you know the rest of the story:)

Last Saturday, when we went to our local Farmers’ Market, Mom and I got a friendly reminder to dance like no one’s watching …

Where do you think these two got their moves? 😉

You’ve gotta dance like there’s nobody watching,
Love like you’ll never be hurt,
Sing like there’s nobody listening,
And live like it’s heaven on earth.

― William W. Purkey

Celebrate 30 years for Earthbound Farm Organic and win! You may know Earthbound Farm from the cartons of organic greens in your produce aisle—they’re the leading grower of organic produce in the U.S.

It’s Earthbound’s 30th anniversary, and they’re giving away 30 prizes a day for 30 days to celebrate!

In 1984, founders Drew and Myra Goodman moved to California from Manhattan and started farming a 2 1/2-acre raspberry farm organically. Before long, they became the first company to market prewashed, packaged salad, starting a salad revolution for baby greens nationwide. Their product line now includes specialty greens like kale and arugula, as well as fruits and snacks.

“Behind the salads and greens, the fruits and veggies, we’re a community of people passionate about happier, healthier living. Happier in a ‘growing closer over a meal made from ingredients closer to the Earth’ way. Healthier in a ‘synthetic chemical-free’ and ‘oh-no-what-did-I-just-eat-free’ way. And we want to share it with you. So get ready to cook delicious, learn wholesome, plan goodness, and explore wonderful.”

Earthbound has profiled four personality types of organic customers: Innovator, Champion, Nurturer, and Explorer. What “salad sign” are you? Take a simple quiz with fun questions like “Favorite dynamic duo?” with choices including “Thelma and Louise, Batman & Robin, and Mr. & Mrs. Potatohead” at EBFarmPromotions.com to find out.

Just by taking the quiz, you’ll get an exclusive coupon, a salad-in-a-jar recipe tailored to your “salad sign,” a background image of your “sign” for your computer, and be entered to win a limited-edition reusable shopping bag and other “mystery” prizes throughout September … it’s a win-win!