12-12-2009

A “Farm Fresh” Holiday Gift Guide

ButternutStock up: this Saturday 12/19 is the last Wintertime Farmers Market until January 2nd!

Good food is a great gift. Perhaps we’re biased, working every day with people who make their living producing food here in Rhode Island. But you really can’t undervalue a gift that can be such a source of pleasure and also be so meaningful to the place we live. Recent case studies have again found that every dollar spent on local food generates an additional 50 cents or even $1 more in local economic activity. The benefits to the community add up quickly, and of course taste great.

With that in mind, here are a few edible gift ideas, all produced locally, available at the Wintertime Farmers Market:

  • Cook a meal with someone special: an afternoon at the market followed by a winter stroll and then a delicious dinner together. The vegetables, meats, seafood, breads and cheeses at the market set the stage for a meaningful gift.
  • Farmacy Herbs Tea Sampler: a collection of organic tea blends to help you relax, fight colds, and warm up this winter. Add a jar of local honey for an extra sweet gift!
  • Deluxcious Foods gluten-free chocolates, cookies and confections are hand made using farm fresh local ingredients. They make perfect stocking stuffers!
  • Spoil someone with succulent scallops and herb butter from Bomster Scallops.
  • Narragansett Creamery cheese baskets feature heavenly cheese made in small batches in Providence, RI. Give it to someone who’ll share.
  • Or ask Farmstead Cheese to help you put together a collection of exquisite cheeses from across Southern New England.
  • Coffee-lovers will be pleased with a pound of New Harvest Coffee Roasters “El Alto” fair-trade coffee (have you seen their new bags!) plus maybe illustrated tee shirt.
  • Jacks Snack’s handmade dog biscuits are made from human-grade ingredients, local and organic when possible. Dogs love ‘em!
  • From hot pepper jelly to salsa to apple butter, there is a spread for anyone on your list. Pick out your favorite flavors made from ingredients grown in RI.
  • Sweet or spicy roasted pecans from Purple Pear of Providence make a great gift for a food-lover. Once you try them you’ll want to keep them for yourself!
  • Assemble your own gift basket: help someone de-stress with Earth Essence Herbals lavender aromatherapy spray, an herb plant from Allen Farms, and ache-away salve from Farmacy Herbs.

Fresh Bucks, gift coins for the farmers’ market, can be purchased at the Farm Fresh info table or online. They can be used at any vendor, never expire and always bring a smile!