Plant-based Jamaican jerk marinades made in Topsham — Yankee's 2025 Best New Artisan Food for the Maine Blueberry Jerk Marinade.
Backriver Blends crafts bold, plant-based Jamaican jerk marinades with a Maine twist, founded by Jordene Trueh in Topsham. Trueh grew up cooking in Jamaica with her parents, and after moving from Maryland to Maine — and reshaping her approach to ingredients following her daughter's severe food-allergy diagnosis — she started Backriver Blends to make authentic Caribbean flavors accessible and allergen-friendly. Yankee magazine named the Maine Blueberry Jamaican Jerk Marinade — fusing thyme, ginger, three kinds of peppers, and wild Maine blueberries — a Best New Artisan Food of 2025. All marinades are naturally vegan and gluten-free, sold at SKORDO and select premium retailers across Maine and online.
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