J.M. Smucker has announced it will no longer sell Knott’s Berry Farm jams, jellies, preserves and cookies at grocery stores.
In a press release issued this week, Frank Cirillo, a spokesman for the Ohio-based food company, said he realizes the products are well liked among consumers.
“We greatly appreciate the fans of the brand and look forward to continuing to serve them through our other offerings,” he said. “The decision to discontinue Knott’s Berry Farm was in alignment with our strategy to continuously review our portfolio and prioritize support to the areas of the business with the greatest growth potential.”
Representatives with Knott’s Berry Farm offered no comment.
The popular line of products include Knott’s’ Seedless Strawberry Jam, Boysenberry Preserves and Seedless Red Raspberry Jam, among other long-time favorites.
Fans are rushing to snag what they can while the products may still be on store shelves and in vending machines, according to a posting on allrecipes.com.
“Noooo! I’m buying every bag in my vending machine when I return to work Monday,” one cookie lover wrote.
“Gotta go to Big Lots now. that’s where I know they have them currently,” another fan said.
Fans of the products need not dispair, however, as the products can still be purchased through Knott’s Berry’s online marketplace and at the Berry Market at Knott’s Berry Farm.
J.M. Smucker acquired the Knott’s Berry Farm brand from ConAgra Foods, now Conagra Brands, in 2008, according to USA Today. Knott’s Berry’s line of products included “high quality jams, jellies and preserves in the retail, gift boxes, and foodservice channels,” according to a 2008 news release announcing the acquisition.
Knott’s Berry Farm had humble beginnings before it eventually morphed into the popular entertainment destination it has become today.
“What began as a roadside berry stand and chicken dinner restaurant in the 1920s has evolved into Knott’s Berry Farm, one of Southern California’s most popular theme park destinations,” the company’s website says.
Knott’s is owned and operated by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, one of the largest regional amusement-resort operators in the world and a publicly traded partnership headquartered in Sandusky, Ohio.
Cedar Fair owns and operates 13 properties, consisting of 11 amusement parks, four separately gated outdoor water parks, and resort accommodations totaling more than 2,300 rooms and more than 600 luxury RV sites.
The company’s parks are located in Ohio, California, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Missouri, Michigan, Texas and Toronto, Ontario.
