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Looking for the
perfect gift for that hard-to-buy-for friend? Consider
wrapping up something delicious from some of the
area’s local foods producers. Many products complement
each other, making it easy and fun to put together
a package or basket. Here are some possibilities:
- Artisan
Cheeses: Half a dozen area farms offer
a wide assortment of cheeses made from cow,
goat, or sheep milk. All are available direct
from the producer and many can be found at local
retailers.
- Bread
or Crackers: Choose from a great selection
of fresh baked bread from local bakeries, or
the Ithaca Farmers Market through December 17th.
The Crackerman of Etna has many great varieties
of crackers when bread isn’t practical but you
want something wonderful to complement those
local cheeses.
- Wine:
There are many to select from; for something
different, consider a fruit wine from Glenhaven
Farm or Locust Woods Farm, or hard cider from
Bellwether or Eve’s Cidery.
- Apples:
A number of storage apples from local orchards
will still be crisp and juicy throughout the
holiday season, and some growers will even pack
and ship your selections for you.
- Maple
Syrup: Various sizes and types of packaging
are available, and don’t forget other maple
products, like maple cream and maple sugar candy,
which are sure to please.
- Honey:
A surprising number of flavors are produced
locally and, like maple products, they are available
in a variety of sizes and packaging; a Honey
Bear will put a smile on anyone’s face.
- Jams,
Jellies and Preserves: Many farm markets
and roadside stands offer some great choices
made from local fruits.
- Gourmet
Sauces: Ralph’s or Finger Lakes Signature
both offer a variety of products that can be
chosen with the gift recipient in mind.
- Popcorn:
A “handful" from Fingerlakes Popcorn is
not just tasty; the plastic glove containing
the unpopped kernels is a great conversation
item.
While selecting
from all these great local products, think about
your own holiday table. Chances are that much of
what you like to serve can be found from a local
producer. In addition to the ideas already mentioned,
you’ll find beef, goat, lamb, pork and poultry,
and many varieties of winter squash, root crops
and greens.
Including locally
produced foods in your holiday shopping and planning
your holiday meals around seasonally available local
foods is a wonderful way to reflect thankfulness
for this great region we call home. It also helps
keep local farms in business, and thereby helps
preserve the countryside that greatly contributes
to our quality of life.
To help you find
producers of all the things mentioned in this article
Cornell Cooperative Extension South Central NY Agriculture
Program has compiled a Guide to Foods Produced
in the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes. Included
are products offered by each producer as well as
their contact information. This free guide is available
at locations throughout the southern tier and from
your local Cooperative Extension Office; in Tompkins
County call 607-272-2292.
Debbie Teeter
is Senior Program Coordinator in the Agriculture
Program of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins
County.
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