There’s no place like Maine during the holiday season, and there is no better way to celebrate this time of year than by giving and sharing Maine-made and grown agricultural products for your family and friends to enjoy.
Here is a sampling of the many offerings from our Real Maine members this holiday season. Be sure to support local farms and producers and look for the Real Maine logo this holiday season. Nearly every Real Maine member offers gift cards or certificates.
Gift boxes are a great choice for giving this holiday season. Real Maine members put together a wide variety of curated gift packages, or you could even take individual Real Maine products and make your own gift box.
Fill bellies, pantries, and glasses
For your next gathering, consider either making your own charcuterie board filled with local meats, cheeses, appetizers, and snacks, or ordering one such as the Cheese Gift Box from Lakin’s Gorges Cheese at East Forty Farm.
Real Maine products can be a palate-expanding way to help your family and friends add to their kitchens this holiday season and enjoy the taste that only local taste brings. Maybe hot sauces from Farthest Field Farm, or Sambuca Simmering Sauce from Luigi Del Conte Sauces?
Don’t forget the cooks on your list who might like to try pepper flakes from Morning Dew Farm, or some finishing salts from Lecker Spice.
Satisfy those with a sweet tooth on your list with confections such as the Maine Chocolate Lover’s Collection or the Luxury Bonbon Assortment from Bixby Chocolate.
The perfect complement to celebrations, gatherings, or a chilly day or night during the holiday season is sipping on just the right beverage. You could mix a cocktail with, or just sip on, Real Maine beer, cider, wine, and spirits. Here’s a cozy idea: Real Maine member eighteen twenty wines offers pre-made mulled wine kits you can pair with their wines, which are made from local rhubarb.
Traditional favorites or something new
Here are some suggestions to sweeten your holiday season from some Real Maine producers:
- The Barrel, Bean, and Bark Trio from Northern Reach Maple – maple syrup infused with organic coffee and cinnamon, and aged in bourbon barrels
- The Maple Lobster Gift Box from Hilltop Boilers, which includes maple needhams, maple drops, maple sugar, maple syrup, and a plush lobster
Real Maine members also create natural skin and body care products that could make the perfect gift, such as eco-friendly shampoo and conditioner bars from Ledgeway Farm, made with goat milk and other natural ingredients.
Maybe sending a do-it-yourself wreath kit from Piper Mountain Christmas Trees would be just the right way to celebrate the season?
Real Maine is the state’s official agriculture and agritourism promotions program. From holiday gifts and decorations to the perfect ingredients for your holiday meals and celebrations, plan your agricultural experience with Real Maine. Visit RealMaine.com to connect to farms, food, and agriculture throughout Maine.
