There’s no place like Maine during the holiday season, and there is no better way to celebrate the season than by giving and sharing Maine-made and grown agricultural products for your family and friends to enjoy. Real Maine gifts are perfect for shipping to those from away or hand-selecting from your local farm store, shop, or business. Search Real Maine to find the perfect “Gift from ME.” You can customize your search to find the perfect gift that will make the season magical and memorable.
Here is a sampling of Real Maine member items to inspire your holiday shopping list. Look for the Real Maine logo and support local farms and producers this holiday season.
Nearly every Real Maine member offers gift cards or certificates, which might just be the perfect gift. Consider giving somebody a gift subscription to a CSA (for everything from produce to flowers) or perhaps opt for a more unique choice like Herbal Revolution Farm & Apothecary’s Plant of the Month or a certificate to take an Alpaca for a walk at Northern Solstice Alpaca Farm – Maine Alpaca Experience.
Gift boxes are also a great choice for giving this holiday season – Real Maine members offer a wide variety of options, including the Blueberry Breakfast Gift Box from Maine Homestead Market and Perry Home Naturals’ boxes full of relaxing sachets, sprays, and eye pillows. Visit several Real Maine members and purchase items to build your own holiday gift baskets customized for your friends and loved ones.
FILL YOUR BELLY AND YOUR GLASS
Whether you are entertaining or gifting, food and drink from Maine is always a delicious choice.
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For your next gathering, consider making your own charcuterie board filled with local meats, cheeses, appetizers, and snacks, or order one from a Real Maine member. The Cheese Gift Box from Lakin’s Gorges, includes a selection of handcrafted cheeses, along with local crackers and local honey. Order a board for yourself or to send to friends and family.
Real Maine jams, jellies, sauces, and salsas are a flavorful way to stuff holiday stockings and help your family and friends stock their pantries this holiday season. Crafted at the peak of freshness, they pair perfectly with any meal, snack, or culinary creation. Maybe some Midcoast Mayhem hot sauce from Maine Gravy or Canceaux Sauce from Captain Mowatt’s? Or barbecue sauce from Tallywaggers? Perhaps some Spruce Beer Vinegar from West Maqouit Vinegar Works? Or Blueberry Chutney or Blueberry Pie Filling from Worcester’s Wild Blueberries? The possibilities are endless!
Don’t forget the bakers on your list. Real Maine selections like Maple Pecan Premium Scone Mix from The Scone Goddess or lavender extract from Sweet Dreams Lavender Farm. Did you know lavender makes a delicious substitute for vanilla in sugar cookies and shortbreads?
Satisfy those with a sweet tooth on your list with confections such as Winter Bon Bons from Bixby Chocolate.
The perfect compliment to celebrations, gatherings, or just a chilly day or night during the holiday season is sipping on just the right beverage. Perhaps open a bottle of Green Bee’s Honeycomb Cider, a non-alcoholic treat featuring local honey or mix a cocktail with or just sip on Real Maine beer and spirits, including:
- Pomegranate Sublime from Tree Spirits
- Rhubarb wine from eighteen twenty wines
- Peppermint Cordial from Mossy Ledge Spirits (catch them on a Real Maine episode of Maine Life airing in December)
- Golden Traditional Cranberry Blossom Honey from Run Amok Mead
- Fire Cidah from Urban Farm Fermentory
TRADITIONAL FAVORITES OR SOMETHING NEW
With a full spectrum of choices to help you check items off your holiday list, you can opt for something familiar or something more unique.
Maple is a flavor that has deep roots in our state. Real Maine maple producers have many items to sweeten your holiday season, such as the Maple & Honey Gift Box from Jackman Maple or maple popcorn from Bob’s Sugarhouse.
Maine has a long history of making and working with textiles, and the state’s fiber producers continue that tradition today. Local angora, wool, and yarn are the materials that weave together warmth during the coldest days. Look for Real Maine fiber products this holiday season, such as:
- The Maine Blanket (“napper” size) from Seacolors Yarnery at Meadowcroft Farm
- Thyme Tile kits from A Wrinkle in Thyme Farm
- Alpaca Hats from Northern Solstice Alpaca Farm (catch them on a Real Maine episode of Maine Life airing in December)
Flowers can always add color and brightness to the holiday season – whether if you’re sending them from Real Maine members like Tina’s Daylilies or in the form of a wreath from Real Maine members like Leafsong Family Farm.
For readers, there is a wide assortment of books and publications that Real Maine members have to offer, including Unique Maine Farms.
For those that seem to have everything, look for one-of-a-kind items like homemade birdhouses made from tree parts from Salt Run Farm.
The staff at Real Maine wish you a happy holiday season. Follow Real Maine on Facebook to enjoy Real Maine member features, gift guides, recipes, and more all year long.
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 www.RealMaine.com to connect to farms, food, and agriculture throughout Maine.
