Smucker's tops list of apricot preserves

[...] our intrepid panel embarked on an epic tasting of nearly 40 brands - ranging in price from $2.39 to $16.95.

[...] place went to Canadian-made Crofter's Premium Spread ($3.89 for 10 ounces at Rainbow Grocery).

Coming in third is local organic orchard Frog Hollow Farm ($5.99 for 8.6 ounces at Andronico's).

Most liked the handmade conserve's "nice pieces of apricots" and "very good apricot flavor."

Fourth place was a tie between Safeway Select ($2.39 for 11.5 ounces), which panelists felt had "decent" apricot flavor, but was "very sweet" (two would buy, one might and two would not) and Austrian brand D'Arbo ($4.99 for 16 ounces at Rainbow Grocery).

Tasters found another juice-sweetened brand, Italian-made Rigoni di Asiago Fior di Frutta ($4.99 for 8.82 ounces at Rainbow Grocery) to have "fair fruit" but a "cloying texture."

Panelists were Marc Halperin, culinary director, Center for Culinary Development, San Francisco; Shelley Handler, food consultant, San Francisco; Emily Luchetti, chief pastry officer, Waterbar and Farallon, San Francisco; Rosemary Mark, recipe developer, Walnut Creek; Roland Passot, chef-owner of La Folie in San Francisco and three Left Banks.