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The Armenian Mirror Spector April 2008

April, 2008

The Armenian Mirror Spector April 2008

April, 2008

Harvest Song Reaches Peak of Gourmet Preserve Market

By: Nancy Kalajian

BOSTON - Most Armenians would instantly recognize the twin-peaked outline of Mt. Ararat drawn in sunny yellow on the label attached to a jar of Harvest Song fruit preserves from the Ararat Valley in Armenia. Indeed, those who were raised in Armenia, like Sylvia Tirakian, always remembered the succulent tastes of naturally sun-ripened fresh apricots, quince, figs, peaches and sour cherries growing in their gardens. But Tirakian took action on her fond fruit memories with the opening of Harvest Song Ventures, a food company that specializes in natural and organic food products from Armenia, including freshly-reserved fruits. Now, many non-Armenians also have the opportunity to taste the distinctive , delicate flavors of Armenia's fruit.

Tirakian, formerly a fiber optics engineering design manager, partnered with investor James Tufenkian, founder of the renowned Tufenkian Artisan Carpets, to start Harvest Song Ventures in 2005. "We are forming a new path, a high-end gourmet market; it's like a young girl coming out," shared Tirakian. "There's no pectin, jellying or preservatives. While you see Ararat, it's not an ethnic product, but a high-end preserve."

Winner of two consecutive first-place gold medals in the Outstanding Jam/Preserve Category from NASFT (The National Association for the Specialty Food Trade) for Apricot Preserve (in 2006) and Sour Cherry (in 2007), Harvest Song's products competed with hundreds of other preserves to win the prestigious award. NASFT is a well-regarded association that assesses international products..

Harvest Song products can be found in all 270 William & Sonoma stores, as well as some Omni Foods, Whole Foods, Wild Harvest stores and their website, www.HarvestSongVentures.com. " The US is very excited about consuming food from exotic places. Our products are used in the best kitchens in the US. Rachel Ray loves the product and says it's like fresh fruit." Tirakian proudly relays. "Chef Daniel (of Daniel and Cafe Boulud) uses it in his kitchen as well." Besides pairing the preserves with artisinal cheeses, Harvest Song's reach has even extended far outside the US to Japan.

We've taken an Arminian product and we have reformulated it, with greater detail in packaging and it's very sophisticated. We have introduced the Arminian product and it's an ethnic product. We present it with pride but pride alone is not enough, you must deliver with service and quality.

It was that overly sweet flavor of Soviet-style recipes which used lots of sugar that pushed Tirakian into action. "Armenia's tsiran was no different," Tirakian shares, "It was preserved in lots of sugar. The aroma is killed and (it is) packed carelessly. Labels are even crooked."

"All the Harvest Song products are my proprietary formulas and have international proprietary trademarks," Tirakian continued. "We reformulated the product (for taste and texture), and packaged it (spent time and money) to create products for high-end consumers paying attention to hygiene, quality and consistency. We have been an example to other entrepreneurs.

"We purchase from micro farmers from all areas of Armenia. they get paid and there is great excitement among farmers. More trees are planted. I work very hard for a better economic and social situation among the people. The farmers regain their pride. They feel proud because their work is appreciated. We have become their ambassadors," she said.

James Tufenkian and Sylvia Tirakian, both passionate advocates for Armenia's revival, are thrilled to introduce indigenous Armenian products to other parts of the world. Their products are preservative-free, tasty and healthy. Tirakian tells of her great respect and friendship with James Tufenkian, her investing partner, and shares, "All of the efforts of harvest Song is a mere continuation of the high standard that Tufenkian Enterprises has established worldwide."

Though Tirakian left Yerevan when eight years old and lived in Beirut for about four years, She's been mainly living in the New york area the last three decades. Though she found little creativity in her former work as an engineer, she now finds her time is occupied with every single aspect of Harvest Song - from manufacturing to marketing.

With Tirakian's exacting nature, no detail is left to chance. A glass company in Armenia makes harvest Song's distinctive jars, using a mold that she ordered from Europe. Only the ripest fruit is handpicked, cleaned, cut and immediately prepared in small batches to assure that fresh fruit taste. As a final touch, nature-inpired colorful sun-dried rice paper from Katmandu, Nepal, is tied onto each jar with hand-loomed yarn. Tirakian credits Tufenkian for packaging the jars. "All the rice paper colors are carefully picked to give the consumer the harvest mood," Tirakian said.

Her advise to other entrepreneurs hoping to work in Armenia is simple: "You have to go to Armenia with patience, respect and equality. If you go with the state of mind that you know better, it'll never work. Armenia is still learning and has a lot to teach. You have to go as a 'builder', a good builder knows how to listen and how to respect everyone."

The company's name is dedicated to the farmers who sing beautiful melodies of praise and thanksgiving during the harvest season. It's a catchy tune and product, no matter what the season. The sweet but smooth apricot preserves can be eaten straight from the jar, or added to a bowl of yogurt; for a dreamy combination, try it paired with Parmagiano Reggiano cheese. The golden fig preserves taste so fresh you might think the figs were just picked from a tree growing in the valley of Ararat and canned today.

I have tried your fabulous Apricot and Strawberry jams for the first time - a friend of mine who lives in NJ, who is a Regional Food and Beverage Director was so impressed by your product that he brought them all the way to LA telling me "I found the best jam in the world, better than the French ones (he's french), and it's from Armenia (as I'm an Armenian). I was so proud when I saw the packaging of your product, its phenomenal taste and immediately got online to order a case of your jams.

Suzanne Der Sahakian

At the "Wine Spectator" VIP event they were blown away by Harvest Song Tea-Rose Petal preserve.

Barrie Lynn, The Cheese Impresario

I got to use your Sour cherry at dinner, The ambassador and his wife loved it.

Chef Lars Ulstein, Norwegian Embassy

I love your product. I always give it as gifts and even posted your site on my face book page! I have a question, what song is that in the homepage? It's beautiful.

Terra Khachooni

I found your jar in my boyfriend's fridge. He sure does have GREAT taste for jam. I LOVE your apricot. YUM!!!!!!!!

Lia, NYC, New York

Zingerman's Z Club introduced my family to these delights. Now that we're moving into a house with a huge black walnut tree, I know what to do with my nuts! These are a must for any home - wonderful on pancakes.

Andrea

I met Sylvia at the Maywood Market which sells the preserves and I told her my favorite was the Apricot & White Cherry...I had used it to cook pork and chicken dishes...it was fabulous!!!!

Maureen Hillenius

These preserves remind me of my childhood growing up in Greece.

Executive Chef of Carlyle Hotel, Jimmy Sakatos

I am sitting here in my office in Palm Beach Florida eating some fresh baked muesli bread and Harvest Song Apricot Preserve with a touch of diet cream cheese and I'm in heaven! At first I thought there would be a lot of sugar in it---but then I looked and there is a small amount---I wish you could make some with splenda so I could eat the whole jar and not feel guilty! It tastes like you use the ripest fruit that just melts with flavor when you cook it! I purchased it at Market Salamander in Palm Beach and have been telling everyone about it. I almost want to make a stick it note praising its flavor and attach it to the jar the next time I go in there so that everyone will try it...I cant wait to try the flavors. Thank you for making such a great product and I am sure your countrymen in Armenia will be kept employed for a long time with these great products. From one sales person to another...I will tell all the Pam Beachers what they are missing!

Anne Knopf, Director of Sales Heart of the Palm Beach Hotel

I bought this product with trepidation because in the past I'd tried other fig preserves that were extremely disappointing - too much sugar, or bad figs, or somebody held their pinky the wrong way. Just bad.

I held my breath when I opened up the Harvest Song Gourmet jar and took a spoonful out to taste. Then the heavens opened! Choirs of Angels sang! Tiny bluebirds rested on my shoulders! Okay, not really, but this stuff was the real thing - it tastes *exactly* like Grandma's homemade. Exactly. That she made in her kitchen in New Orleans 40 years ago with figs that Grandpa grew in the backyard.

So if you are a fig lover, I highly recommend these preserves - they are to die for. If you've never tried figs or especially fig preserves, you don't know what you're missing!

Red Writing Hood, Washington State

I bought the sour cherry and it was divine mixed with cream cheese and spread on a bagel. Thank you so much for offering such a fantastic product! Thanks.

Rachel M., Central Market customer/ Dallas, Texas

Sylvia, I met you in Napa. Your rose petal jam is heaven on my yogurt.

Susan, Napa Valley California

I just opened the sour cherry preserves last night. I served it with sautéed foie gras - really terrific combo, everyone loved it. I highly recommend the pairing.

Josh - Pork Tuesday

55 years ago I was in  Cypress &  tasted the most wonderful sweet walnut treat.

I tried to describe it and unsuccessfuly tried to find the little old woman who gave it to me. I have experimented endlessly to no avail. In fact, most people thought I was dreaming or exaggerating.

And then there was the little item about you in the paper!

Thank you.

Irish

I don't have a question. Just a comment. Your Sour Cherry perserves is AMAZING.

Terri Tweed

Found your walnuts in a small store in Philadelphia and they were amazing with cheese. Can't wait to serve them again.

Cheryl, New Jersey

Hi Sylvia,

Thank you so much for your wonderful and personal service! The jams arrived Tuesday--so perfectly packed, I hated to take them out of the box. Each individual jar is beautiful but when you can see them all together, they are amazing! I was really surprised since I had only seen the apricot and fig at the store. The two varieties looked great but the jars look even better when there are several different kinds. The rice paper colors are so rich and delicious looking. If only I had a store of my own...

Yesterday we opened the black currant and it was delicious! I surprised by how tangy and not too sweet it was. I can hardly wait to try all the others.

I watched your video after we spoke. It was fun to see what you look like--actually I wasn't surprised. I had pictured you pretty much like that from our phone conversation. I enjoyed the information and presentation. What a pretty wall you had behind you.

We'll definitely be in touch to order more jams. Once again, thank you.

Sincerely,

Susan M.

Your wonderful jam was a thank you gift given to me by a patient and I love it.

Dr. ES, New York City

I purchased your Golden Fig Preserve today and we had some with a bit of Brie....I never would have noticed the product in our local PUBLIX in Ft. Lauderdale if it had not had the paper cover. Great marketing...great product

Daniel K.

Your preserves are absolutely marvelous! I came across your pear and apple in a random store here and I knew it was special so I brought it home and opened it to share with a guest staying with me from Slovenia. We were in heaven. I started a raw cacao global business and work with the earth, eating organic foods etc and I just ordered three more kinds of your preserves. Thank you for what you make. This is how we should create upon the earth. :)

Amita

Excellent! My grandmother made it for me before arriving from Syria 60 years ago! This is even better! Congratulations!

Rafael Kassin Nessin, Syria

Over a year ago I had read the book THE KITE RUNNER. In the book, the young boy has fresh pita bread with sour cherry jam for breakfast every morning. The way the jam was described in the book was nothing that I had ever tasted in the United States. After reading the book, I would often search the jam sections of stores in New York City - but nothing seemed 'right'. I even bought a few sour cherry jams, and was always disappointed. I was desperate to find this jam!

One day I found my way into a store in Manhattan, and I saw the sour cherry jam from Harvest Song. When I picked up the jar, and saw the way the jam 'moved' in the jar, I became very excited. I recall that in the book the sour cherry jam the boy ate was very 'spreadable'. Which implied to me that the jam was very fresh, and had less holding it together than the jams I've had. I then noticed on the Harvest Song label that the jam has no pectin. I thought "this must be it!" The jam in the book must not only have been very fresh, but also had no pectin! The clincher was when I saw that Harvest Song was made in Armenia. THE KITE RUNNER takes place in a country in that part of the world, and it made sense that the preparation that Harvest Song uses to make its jam would be something similar, if not exact.

I brought home my 'find', toasted my 7 grain bread, put on a bit of almond butter, and then spread my Harvest Song sour cherry jam. I was in heaven! I knew I had found the perfect jam, and my long search was over.

Thank you, Harvest Song. You now have a life long customer.

Scott New York City

 

Scott S., NYC

The rose petal jam in particular is WONDERFUL!

Jean G, Seattle, WA

Sylvia, You make gorgeous jams

Joyce, SF, CA

Your preserves are the best I have ever found for my family.

Hollie Plemons

The jam had a clean taste. You can taste the difference of the jam from other jams.

H-MART RIDGE FIELD - STORE

I loved your story and love your preserves especially the fig jam. Be well and keep spreading the love. A grateful customer.

Sherri

How much I enjoy... Dear Harvest Song, I am now on my second jar of apricot preserve and I wanted to tell you how much I enjoy your product! The quality is much higher than any other preserve I have tried here in America. Your packaging is beautiful too!You have clearly put a lot of thought and love into your venture. I found you at Whole Foods in Fort Collins Colorado. Wishing you continued success in this changing world.

J. Jerranto

These Preserves are so delicious and really have a clean, fresh taste. Overall the product is WINNER from the look of the package to how it smells and tastes.

Cristina Ferrare

These walnuts are unbelievable!! Never had anything like them...very hard to find. Delicious paired with Gorgonzola

Michelle Frobel

Just recently I purchased a jar of your Apricot Preserves. They are delicious. I at first wondered if they were too expensive for me, but decided after tasting them at the market, I couldn't resist. And I wasn't sorry. They are so good. We had company stay with us, and served the preserves and they were very impressed too.Thanks for such good products.

Carol Murphy

Your preserves are a big hit, we use the Rose Petal on the Foie Gras and the others with the cheese course.

Carrie Nahabedian, Co-owner of NAHA Restaurant Winner of James Beard Foundation 2008

I love your product!!

Robert Davis

The apricot is so buttery, perfect on a biscuit. Really good stuff.

J. Slab - Pork Tuesday

I have just sent off the baby Walnut Preserves and the Tea Rose Petal Preserves to our Chef daughter in Australia. I could not wait because I know no one would appreciate them more than she! I'm saving the Strawberry and Apricot for special occasions for us.

Carolyn Holt Andress

I love Tea Rose Preserves but have the hardest time finding it.

The preserves are so good.

I'm really impressed that the preserves dont contain pectin.

You can really taste the difference between other preserves brands and the Harvest Song one.

The Apricot & White Cherry Preserves is absolutely delicious!

 

Whole Foods Customers

We just purchased a few different jams of your line. Being from Austria, where we have Darbo and Staud's, naturally I was a bit skeptic about your apricot jam. Ehm, what can I say. We are blown away. The flavor gave me instant flashbacks when my mother would make jams at home. We love it, love it, love it.

H. Peter

I paired your apricot preserves with a remarkable cracker (34 degree crisp bread) and a wonderful soft brie (President). The combination was fabulous! Can't wait to serve this at my next gathering!

Hunter St. Claire

I purchased the Apricot Preserves. We in fact just finished that jar! I then went back and purchased the Rose Petal Preserve which I served for dessert over chocolate pound cake with vanilla ice cream. That was divine. Your jams are great, please keep Jefferson Market stocked with them!

Maura Geils

Sylvia,

Thank you for the great preserves. Everyone really enjoyed it….

Especially my mom! Good luck in 2012

Guy Fieri

After enjoying Harvest Song fig preserve for sometime, I read about the woman who is behind Harvest Song. Wow, she is the Grande Dame of preserve making. Kudos to Sylvia and Armenia

Claude, United Nations, New York

I LOVE your jams! Thank you.

Indra B, San Diego, CA

Just wanted to tell you that these are exquisite preserves, we are loving them so much and will order more to give as Christmas gifts.

Anne, Leonia, NJ

I came across your quince preserve from one of my local stores in East Kilbride, Scotland UK.

Just to let you know I think it is absolutely delicious. I plan on returning to the store tomorrow to purchase the other varities they have on offer.

David

It was all natural and it contained almost all fruit.

H-MART GREAT NECK - STORE

These walnuts are unbelievable!! I've never had anything like it... very hard to find

Michelle F., Windsor, NY

...Your reputation is incredible and growing by the minute - quite impressive. As perhaps I told you on the phone, our family has been in the flour business for many years. I am the third generation of the Uhlmanns to own and run Heckers and Ceresota flour.

Paul Uhlmann III

Fantastic. I ate the whole jar in four days! It was so delicious. I can't wait to buy more! And the tart, not too sweet, just soooo delicious, addictive ... thank you!

Pamela, Miami, FL

New fave cheese companion: Harvest Song preserves. Tea rose and sour cherry are best flavors, the stinkier the cheese the better.

TWITTER @carondg

Something to look forward to every morning - Peach Preserve

Jamie M., Taconic, CT

To the dear folks at Harvest Song Ventures;

Thank you so much for your time and efforts on my behalf...Needless to say I am extremely fond of your products and have never tasted anything so heavenly. I have ordered from your company once before and was so impressed that I have not stopped talking about them to friends and family alike. I did manage to take one of the walnuts and slice it into 20 very tiny servings along with some of the liquid and hand it out to family and friends to sample. The rest I kept for my self. It was a glorious start to each day through the Christmas season.

Thank you again for introducing your products to the USA...what a God sent you all are.

Sincerely your devoted customer,
Sharron J. Stevenson

PS your products give this old lady much pleasure.

 

Sharron J. Stevenson

Love your Jam, Absolutely GREAT product, Best jam around!

Leigh H.

We Use Harvest Song Tea rose Preserve in our ganache to make exquisite tea-Rose Petal Truffle. The flavor is subtle and delicious. Our customers Love it!

Elizabeth Garber, The Best Chocolate in town Indianapolis, Indiana
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