As the promotion for Meghan’s American Riviera Orchard products continues to trickle down, two of her very famous friends have revealed that they are also the recipients of the first batch of her strawberry jam.
Award-winning actress and comedy writer Mindy Kaling and actress Tracee Ellis Ross, daughter of Diana Ross, have both revealed they have been given jars of jam as the Duchess prepares to launch her lifestyle brand.
While the pair are emerging as the lucky early recipients of the preserves, they are just two of a very exclusive group of 50 people trying Meghan’s jam before it goes on sale.
Other recipients have revealed themselves as Meghan’s fellow “polo lady” Delfina Blaquier, fashion designer Tracy Robbins and the duchess’s longtime close friend, Kelly McKee Zajfen.
With Meghan’s A-List friends joining the promotion for her new lifestyle brand, it could provide some insight into the Duchess’ target audience.
Mindy Kaling, award-winning writer and actress, is among the exclusive group to receive jam from Meghan’s first batch of American Riviera Orchard
Mindy Kaling has had a friendship with Meghan since appearing on the first series of the Duchess’ Spotify podcast Archetypes.
The star of The Office and The Mindy Project, who has won several awards for her work, posted a photo of her jar of strawberry jam among a bowl of ripe and juicy lemons to show that she received the product.
She tagged Meghan’s American Riviera Orchard brand and simply said: “Obsessed.”
Last week, Mindy was spotted with Prince Harry at a life coaching event in San Francisco for BetterUp, a mental health startup for which Harry is Chief Impact Officer.
She posted a photo of herself beaming next to the Duke on Instagram and joked that she had no idea who he was, calling him “my friend’s husband.”
Another A-lister to receive a jar of strawberry jam from Meghan’s first batch is Tracee Ellis Ross
Mindy wrote, “Met my friend’s husband at a work event. It seemed pretty cool. He said he had written a book. I’ll check it out!’
While Tracee, star of hit comedy Black-ish, posted her jar of jam to her Instagram Story, she also revealed the product on a bed of soft lemons.
It appears the jam also came with a card or letter, with her name written in calligraphy similar to Meghan’s.
While it’s not immediately clear how Meghan and Tracee became friends, the actress was also on the list of speakers at the BetterUp event last week.
The Duchess and Tracee also attended one of Beyoncé’s LA concerts last summer, although they were not pictured there together.
Meghan’s American Riviera Orchard, which debuted its branding and joined social media last month, is the latest launch amid a trend of celebrities shifting their own food products — with Julianne Moore, Will Ferrell and LeBron James among those offering honey from their own garden through the Flamingo Estate brand for up to $250 (£200) per pot.
Meghan could have found inspiration from her father-in-law, King Charles III, who started selling products such as jam from the Duchy of Cornwall estate in the 1990s.
Fashion designer Tracy Robbins posted a photo of the jam, with the American Riviera Orchard logo and “Montecito” underneath. The label also had the text ’17 of 50′
Tracy Robbins showed off the strawberry jam in a basket with lemons and added, “Thanks, M!”
Delfina Balquier also posted a photo on Instagram and said: ‘Strawberry jam makes me happy’
Delfina Balquier’s video also showed the strawberry jam on a piece of bread
Meghan Markle’s close friend Kelly McKee Zajfen received the Duchess’s American Riviera Orchard strawberry jam
Prince William took over the Duchy’s estate following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, and the Duchy’s organic strawberry jam is on sale at Waitrose for £2.80 a jar. Sales from the full range will raise £30 million for the Prince of Wales’s Charitable Fund.
Ms Robbins posted a photo of Meghan’s jam, with the American Riviera Orchard logo and ‘Montecito’ underneath – the celebrity enclave in California where Harry and Meghan live in a £12million home. The label also contained the text ’17 of 50′.
The photo on Ms. Robbins’ Instagram Stories showed jam in her hand, and she said, “@AmericanRivieraOrchard Breakfast, lunch and dinner just got a little sweeter.”
Mrs Robbins showed him off in a basket of lemons and added: ‘Thank you for the lovely basket! I absolutely love this jam so I’m not sure I’ll share it with anyone. @American RivieraOrchard Thanks, M! #MontecitoGoodness #AmericanRivieraOrchard.”
Ms Balquier posted a similar photo to her Stories, saying: ‘Strawberry jam makes me happy. And I love your jam, @AmericanRivieraOrchard.” Her label read: ’10 of 50.’
The post also showed some of the jam on a piece of bread.
Meghan’s fans are hugely excited by the launch, with one tweeting: ‘I don’t eat much jam but for you Meg I’ll buy some. Hubby and kids will eat them on my behalf.”
Last week, comedian, writer and actress Mindy posted a photo to her Instagram account of herself with Prince Harry after they met at a life coaching event in San Francisco
Tracy Robbins with her husband, Paramount boss Brian Robbins, alongside Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at the premiere of Bob Marley: One Love in Kingston, Jamaica, on January 23
Delfina Blaquier and Nacho Figueras at Harry and Meghan’s wedding in Windsor in May 2018
Delfina Blaquier with her husband Nacho Figueras alongside Prince Harry and Meghan Markle during the Royal Salute Polo Challenge for Sentebale in Wellington, Florida, last Friday
Another added: ‘I remember learning to make jam in cooking class, so much fun and all so delicious! I just know that Meghan is absolutely loving this new era with ARO, with support from her amazing friends like Delfina.”
And a third said: ‘It’s all in the details, the ARO logo embroidery on the jam cover is exquisite.’
The Duchess is expected to officially launch American Riviera Orchard later this spring, according to a source People magazine last week: ‘Meghan thinks the name American Riviera Orchard is perfect. It feels authentic to her.
‘She can’t wait for the website to be launched. She is excited about her latest personal venture. This is something she has wanted to do for a while. She is excited to share her style and the things she loves.”
It comes after the Duchess launched her new business venture on March 14 with an Instagram teaser.
A vintage-style video of Meghan cooking and arranging white hydrangeas and roses was posted to American Riviera Orchard’s new Instagram account.
The short video is set to Nancy Wilson’s I Wish You Love and concludes with the brand’s logo written in delicate gold script above the word “Montecito.”
Limited information has been released about American Riviera Orchard, but a trademark application filed on February 2 of this year shows the company plans to offer downloadable and printed recipe books, tablecloths, textiles, jams and marmalades, according to the United States Patent and Trademark Office. website.
Just three hours after the first post, the account had 100,000 followers – a figure that has now risen to 592,000.
Meghan no longer has an Instagram account since the Sussexes stepped away from royal life four years ago.
They previously had a joint account @sussexroyal, but announced they would stop posting in March 2020.
