A Plum Idea: Ashley Rouse Talks Homemade Jam & Starting a Business
Ashley Rouse
Mother, wife, CEO & Founder of Trade Street Jam Co., Chef, Flavor Wizard
What would you say to your OLDER self?
Never stop having fun. Never stop self-improving. Never stop dressing well.
What makes you feel like a real grown up?
Having a baby. I'm a whole mom!
Best gift you gave or received?
My daughter and my husband. God has really blessed us tenfold.
A Plum Idea
I grew up in Indiana. My grandfather was always a wonderful cook and had amazing gatherings with community and fellowship centered around food. Between that and a newfound obsession with the Food Network, I figured, why not become a chef? I don’t remember a specific dish that told me this was my calling. It wasn't so much about what I cooked, it was how I felt while I was doing it. I had a love for it that I hadn't found in anything else.
I didn’t know that making and selling jams was something that could become a business; that was never in the plans. I loved the idea of preserving the flavors of a particular season, so I would make jam as a hobby and hand it out during the holidays. People enjoyed it, but most importantly, I loved making it. Without really knowing if there was an industry or if there was a consumer need for it, I just decided to start selling it.
I'm a chef—so many things honestly just come to me. I'm also inspired by my surroundings, by Brooklyn. I love looking at food or cocktail menus and translating them into jam flavors. I will mess around in the test kitchen for a bit, then the products are procured through local vendors and farmers, supporting our region in every way that we can. We process our jam in small batches, use minimal sugar and no pectin or preservatives. As a result, our jams are slightly less thick which makes them amazing to use in craft cocktails, BBQ sauces, glazes for meats or vegetables, baked goods, yogurt, overnight oats or salad dressings. My personal favorite is our plum and rose jam.
A lot has been tough about starting my own business, but I love how bossy people think you are if you’re an entrepreneur—and how bossy I have actually turned out to be! But I get the opportunity to do things like donate some of our jams to people that are less fortunate and teach jam classes in schools. Giving back is just a non-negotiable. You can't thrive and excel without paying it forward.
