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The Tip is 'Shop where it's easy' I recently searched for a product online and for decided to include Made in USA in my search string. I was surprised to see all kinds of Made in USA products. These ranged from hand tools Made in USA to mountain bikes Made in USA. Why had I not thought of this before? Now, whenever I'm shopping online, the first thing I do is add 'USA Made' or 'Made in USA' to my search string. This website now makes searching for American made products even easier. It has thousands of US made products all being sold by the small American manufacturer. These Made in America companies employ over 40 MILLION Americans. If we buy more from them they will employ more of us. More Americans employed is a good thing. Watch our video which tells the complete story about how we all benefit when American products are purchased. This site has products like American made apparel. As an example, in the clothing category you are directly connected to all kinds of American apparel and accessories including: handbags made in USA, fabric made in USA, made in USA hats, made in USA clothing brands, Made in USA wallets and Made in USA watches. One of my favorite Made in America Secrets categories is grocery and gourmet foods. These Made in USA products range from jams and jellies to chips and salsa. One of my favorites is specialty marshmallows. I purchased some of these last Christmas and used them as stocking stuffers. My grandchildren loved them. There are thousands of wonderful Made in America products offered on Made in America Secrets. Use our PREV|NEXT button to cycle through a few or use our search to find exactly what you are looking for. Using our site is fun and educates you about the many great American made companies. Buying Tip Continued - Read more on Made in America Products by Eva Gates 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. |
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