World-Class Chocolates Right Here in…
World-Class Chocolates Right Here in Southern Oregon
“Unpretentious Sophistication” is a term used many times for Lillie Belle Farms products. “Unpretentious” because their approach is down to earth, and “Sophistication” because their flavor combinations, the subtlety with which they are executed, and dedication to quality are world-class.
It only takes one meeting with Jeff Shepherd, owner and founder of Lillie Belle Farms, to realize why his chocolate creations are so wonderful. Jeff is like a breath of fresh air. He is so true to who he is and to his product that you simply can’t help yourself from having an enjoyable time when he is around. His inspiration for everything he does is simply…the companies name- sake…Lillie, his daughter and Belle, his wife. That’s all the inspiration needed to stick to his uncompromising approach to making the finest artisan chocolates with the finest ingredients he can find.
Lillie Belle Farms is located at the entrance to the lush Applegate Valley in southern Oregon, long known for its rich agricultural heritage and small sustainable farms. When he is not making confections, Chocolatier Jeff Shepherd is working his two-acre berry farm. Dedicated to organic sustainable agriculture, no chemicals or herbicides have ever been used on the farm. These pure and natural fruits provide a solid foundation for many of Lillie Belle Farms chocolates.
Recently Lillie Belle Farms has received national attention winning several prestigious awards for their fine chocolates. And the word has been getting out a little more each month just how great Jeff’s creations truly are. Martha Stewart placed a very large order of Jeff’s (Lavender infused Fleur du Sel Caramels) for some of her friends. If you have never tasted the exquisite combination of freshly made small batch lavender infused caramel covered with a single origin chocolate and then sprinkled with just a hint of imported Fleur du Sel salt from France….well you really need to do yourself a favor and try one. It is simply better than you can imagine. It is no wonder that Martha Stewart fell in love with them. All of Jeff’s creations are equally exceptional. I believe it is his attention to every small detail of the quality of each ingredient that makes his final product so impressive.
Popularity brings its challenges and Lillie Belle Farms is facing them head on. The recent move to a larger industrial kitchen space has made room for some pretty neat new toys. Like their chocolate enrobing line machinery which eliminates the need to hand dip each individual piece of confection. This is the only way they can keep up with the high demand that is growing weekly. Rest assured though, this is still a small one-batch-at-a-time artisan chocolate factory. There is no mass production going on here.
“There are few things in life more satisfying than nurturing a food from seed to stomach, except maybe a good piece of chocolate” Jeff says. Combine the two and you have a recipe for a sweet life full of rewards. Lillie Belle Farms exemplifies the true pioneer spirit where hard work and integrity combine to fulfill dreams. “We love working our own land. We get so excited when the berries start to ripen every summer, we can’t wait to begin making our products with them. It’s a pleasure to know that our labors are appreciated.”
For more information on Lillie Belle Farms and their products you may visit their website at http://www.lilliebellefarms.com/ or you may contact them by phone at (541-664-2815)
