A Quick Rant: Are You Sick Of Seeing Mason Jars Everywhere?

There is a lot to like about the artisanal foods movement, from creative interpretations of ingredients to guerilla marketing to the ability to buy locally. But there are some downsides too. Those who reappropriate their grandmother's old recipes, add some oddball twists (balsamic and chili-spiked strawberry preserves, anyone?) and sell the newfangled goods at jacked-up prices are doing a disservice.

But the biggest scam is the packaging. We have become so conditioned to seeing a Mason, Weck or Ball jar — the more vintage-looking, the better — and equating its perceived preciousness with an old-school authenticity and high dollar value. Our grandparents would be horrified to see the price tags commanded by the kinds of humble-looking jars they used to fill with preserved fruits and veggies and homemade jams in the months leading up to winter. Pickled jalapeños shouldn't cost 8 bucks just because they're in a mason jar. Artisanal mayonnaise? You can make it yourself for less, and pick the storage container yourself.

So to the young artisans of the food world: get more creative with your packaging. Call that college roommate with the graphic design degree or the ad agency job and hit them up for advice if need be. Let the outside reflect the product that you're hopefully packaging with as much passion in mind as profit.

Weck, Ball and Mason jars — overpriced artisanal ingredients not included.

A great and hopeful inspirational example of how to do it right from the Spanish company Marnich, which designed these marmalade jars for the organic brand Mamabrown.