Eva Gates

What products are listed for this advertiser?

Made in the USA Apple Preserves, Made in the USA Black Cap Preserves, Made in America Black Cap Syrups, Made in America Chokecherry Syrups, American Made Huckleberry Preserves, Made in America Huckleberry Syrups, Made in the USA Jelly & Preserves, Made in America Preserves, Made in the USA Raspberry Preserves, and Made in the USA Strawberry Preserves.

In 1949, Eva Gates' strawberry patch was unusually abundant. Instead of letting all those strawberries go to waste, Eva made jam. Well, preserves actually. Equipped with the recipe handed down to her by her grandmother and her wood cook stove, she set about putting up all the strawberries that her garden produced. The jars she gave away were so well liked that friends and neighbors began asking for them-even offering to pay! When she mentioned to her husband, George, that she wished she could make a business out of it, he told her that if something was good enough, people would buy it.

They began cooking the preserves in their two-room log home on a wood cook stove, five pints at a time. By 1954 they had built a new log home and turned the original over to the business, but continued to use the wood range until 1966 when they had an electric range custom-built to duplicate the operation of the wood stove. That electric range is the same one that all Eva Gates products are still cooked on, and still in five pint batches!

Today, Eva's grandchildren and great-grandchildren carry on her tradition of excellence, making six kinds of fruit preserves and three syrups (all added to the line by Eva between 1950 and 1956). These regional varieties capture the most distinctive flavors of the wild Northwestern Montana Rockies. We haven't forgotten what made that first batch sell so well in 1949. Everything is made from the exact same recipes, without additives or preservatives, with the same methods used for over 56 years. Two cooks prepare, cook, bottle and label every jar by hand. All of the preserves and syrups are still truly homemade, just like your grandmother probably made in her own kitchen. Ownership and management of Eva Gates Homemade Preserves has remained in the family.

After Eva retired, Maxine Gates ran the business (1973-1985). Eva's granddaughter, Pamela Gates Siess took over in 1985. Today, Eva's granddaughter, Gretchen Gates oversees daily operations. Many other family members also contribute to the business. Even though we are no longer in the two-room log house, having moved to downtown Bigfork in 1979, we still have the same homey atmosphere. You can still stop in for a visit, watch the preserves being made and taste the delicious results. So next time you're in Bigfork stop in, or call to discuss your special order with a member of our family.



The following is a reply from Eva Gates to our question – "Are your products American Made?"

How do you know the products you have listed are Made in the USA?
Before including products in our database we review the advertiser’s website and/or contact them to ascertain the origin of their products. Some advertisers sell both Made in USA products and foreign ones. Therefore we highly recommend you review FAQ 2.

We immediately investigate any complaints regarding deceptive Country of Origin claims. If we determine an advertiser's claim is not truthful we will immediately remove the product/s from our database and suspend our relationship with the Company making the claim.

To document your complaint, email us by using our Contact Us page. We can only respond to complaints that have been submitted in writing.

What does Made in USA mean?
There is no law requiring most products to be labeled Made In USA, or have any other disclosure about the amount of U.S. content. However, for job creation purposes (see our Big Secret tab), if you have a choice between an imported product and one with no country of origin on its label, choose the product without a country of origin over the imported one. This is true because the product without the country origin on its label has at least some American labor in its content and the imported one most likely does not.

Note: Imported products are required by law to country of origin on their label and products partially Made In USA do not. To answer this question completely reviewing our Labeling Tips 1, 2 & 3. These tips are accessible from scrolling to the bottom of our home page clicking Browse All Tips button.