Jingle Jellies joyfully returns to public events

PALMER — Jingle Jellies owner Judy Hunter participated alongside dozens of vendors at the 2021 Mat-Su Outdoorsman Show. She said it was her first public event of the year, and she appreciated the opportunity to get back out there.

“It’s good to see so many people out and about… I’ve run into people that I’ve done other events with before, lots of customers who didn’t know I would be here and were very happy that I was. I had some regulars. So, It’s been pretty good,” Hunter said.

A moderate crowd cycled through the first day of the Outdoorsman Show. The second day surged with thousands of shoppers. Parking overflowed out of the Raven Hall parking lot to the point of visitors walking from red parking to the show.

“I’ve hardly sat down all day,” Hunter said with a laugh as she attended her booth Saturday afternoon.

Hunter said that it’s encouraging to see events start returning after a year of mostly canceled events. She said that she was only able to attend a couple of events like Friday Flings last summer.

“It’s been a little bit rough. I’ve done okay. The locals have been really good about supporting us. So, that kept us going,” Hunter said.

Hunter said that now more than ever is the time for people to shop locally, and events like the Outdoorsman Show help them reconnect with the public after a long and difficult year.

“They’re doing what they love but it’s a hard way to make a living,” Hunter said.

Hunter has been growing her small, Wasilla-based business and her refining craft for the last seven years. She’s received numerous awards for her jellies at the Alaska State Fair. She said that she’s only missed two years since she started entering 2002. She said that all of her goods are locally sourced.

“I either grow it myself, I get it from friends who grow it and let me come and pick it, or I pick it wild,” Hunter said. It’s very rewarding. It’s a lot of work. I eat, sleep, and do this.”

Hunter opened Meadow Lakes Market, a gift shop featuring her goods alongside numerous locally made wares in September of 2019. She said her vision for the shop is to provide a hub for local artisans and small business owners to showcase the fruits of their labors.

“We bought the building to have a commercial kitchen for Jingle Jellies. But there was plenty of space, and I know all these people that make really cool stuff. So, we opened a place for them to sell their stuff, which worked out really well when all the holiday shows got shut down… We certainly couldn’t take the place of all their shows, but at least we gave them something,” Hunter said.

Hunter said that she was thankful to be able to keep Meadow Lakes Market open throughout 2020 and she feels optimistic looking forward. She’s currently featuring over 60 different artisans at her shop.

“It just feels good to give people another option,” Hunter said.

Meadow Lakes Market is open Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Hunter noted that they’re hoping to expand the hours and days during the summer, and there’s still room for vendors to apply for space.

For more information, call 907-373-3033 or visit the Meadow Lakes Market Facebook page.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com