As promotion for Meghan’s American Riviera Orchard products begins to roll in, two of her most famous friends have revealed that they will also receive 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 revealed they have been gifted jars of jam as the Duchess prepares to launch her lifestyle brand.
While the couple are revealed as the first lucky recipients of the preserve, they are two of a very exclusive group of 50 people who will taste Meghan’s jam before it goes on sale.
Other recipients have been revealed to include Meghan’s fellow ‘polo wife’ Delfina Blaquier, fashion designer Tracy Robbins and the Duchess’s close friend of many years, Kelly McKee Zajfen.
That Meghan’s best friends join in promoting her new lifestyle brand may give an idea of the duchess’s target audience.
Mindy Kaling, award-winning writer and actress, is among the exclusive group who received jam from Meghan’s first batch of American Riviera Orchard.
Mindy Kaling has enjoyed a friendship with Meghan since appearing on the first series of the duchess’ Spotify Archetypes podcast.
The Office and The Mindy Project star, who has won several awards for her work, posted a photo of her jar of strawberry jam among a plate of ripe, juicy lemons to reveal that she received the product.
Tagging Meghan’s American Riviera Orchard brand, she simply said, “Obsessed.”
Last week, Mindy was seen hanging out 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 smiling next to the duke on Instagram and joked that she had no idea who he was, referring to him as “my friend’s husband.”
Another star who received a jar of strawberry jam from Meghan’s first batch is Tracee Ellis Ross.
Mindy wrote: ‘I met my friend’s husband at a work event. He seemed pretty good. He said he wrote a book. I’ll go check it out!’
When Tracee, star of hit comedy Black-ish, posted her jar of jam on her Instagram Story, she also revealed the product on a bed of stuffed lemons.
It appears that the jam was also delivered with a card or letter, which has her name written in handwriting that resembles Meghan’s.
Although it’s not immediately clear how Meghan and Tracee became friends, the actress was also on the speaker list at the BetterUp event last week.
Meghan’s American Riviera Orchard, which debuted her brand and joined social media last month, is the latest launch amid a trend of celebrities switching up their own food products, with Julianne Moore, Will Ferrell and LeBron James among those selling honey from their own gardens through the Flamingo Estate brand for up to $250 (£200) per jar.
Meghan may have been inspired by her father-in-law, King Charles III, who began selling products such as jams on the Duchy of Cornwall estate in the 1990s.
Fashion designer Tracy Robbins posted a photo of the jam, which had the American Riviera Orchard logo and ‘Montecito’ underneath. The label also had the words “17 of 50.”
Showing off the strawberry jam in a basket with lemons, Tracy Robbins added: “Thank you, M!”
Delfina Balquier also posted a photo on Instagram and said: ‘Strawberry jam makes me happy’
Delfina Balquier’s video also showed strawberry jam spread on a piece of bread
Meghan Markle’s close friend Kelly McKee Zajfen received the Duchess’ American Riviera Orchard Strawberry Jam.
Prince William took over ownership of the Duchy after the death of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, and Duchy Organic Strawberry Jam is on sale at Waitrose for £2.80 per jar; sales of the entire range helped raise £30 million for the Prince of Wales Charitable Fund.
Mrs Robbins posted a photo of Meghan’s jam, which had 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 had the words “17 of 50.”
The photo on Ms Robbins’ Instagram Stories showed the jam in her hand and said: “@AmericanRivieraOrchard Breakfast, lunch and dinner just got a little sweeter.”
Showing it off in a basket with lemons, Mrs Robbins added: ‘Thank you for the delicious basket! I love this jam so I’m not sure I’d share it with anyone. @American RivieraOrchard Thanks, M! #MontecitoGoodness #AmericanRivieraOrchard.’
Balquier posted a similar image on his Stories and said: “Strawberry jam makes me happy.” And I love your jam, @AmericanRivieraOrchard.’ The label on it said: “10 out of 50.”
The post also showed some of the jam spread on a piece of bread.
Meghan’s fans were very excited about the launch, with one tweeting: “I don’t eat jam much, but for you Meg, I’ll buy you some.” In fact, my husband and children will eat them in my name.
Last week, comedian, writer and actress Mindy posted a photo on her Instagram account of her 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 at the Royal Salute Polo Challenge for Sentebale in Wellington, Florida, last Friday
Another added: ‘I remember learning how to make jam in cooking class, so much fun and everything so delicious! I just know that Meghan loves this new era with ARO, with the support of her incredible friends like Delfina.”
And a third said: “It’s all in the details, the ARO logo embroidered on the jam cover is exquisite.”
The duchess is expected to officially launch American Riviera Orchard later this spring, a source said. People magazine last week: ‘Meghan finds the name American Riviera Orchard perfect. It feels authentic to her.
‘Can’t wait for the website to launch. She is excited about her latest personal endeavor. 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 a teaser on Instagram.
A vintage-style video of Meghan cooking and arranging hydrangeas and white roses was posted on American Riviera Orchard’s new Instagram account.
The short video was set to Nancy Wilson’s I Wish You Love and closes with the brand’s logo written in fine gold script above the word ‘Montecito’.
Limited information has been released about American Riviera Orchard, but a trademark application on Feb. 2 of this year showed the company wants to offer downloadable and printed recipe books, table linens, textiles, and preserves and jams, according to the Office of United States Patents and Trademarks. website.
The account had 100,000 followers just three hours after its first post, a figure that now stands at 592,000.
Meghan has not had an Instagram account since the Sussexes stepped away from royal life four years ago.
They previously had a joint account @sussexroyal, but announced that they would stop posting in March 2020.