Last-minute gifts that reflect Georgia’s good tastes

If you’re like me, you’re not done with your holiday shopping yet. Lucky for us procrastinators, Georgia’s food producers have got our backs. Here’s a look at some of the high-quality gifts that reflect our home state’s rich culture and wonderful flavors.

Order online

Emily G’s: Emily Myers, co-founder of this Atlanta-based jam business, says that Emily G’s uses local ingredients whenever possible. Some of the Georgia ingredients featured in its products: pears from Good Hope in the Pear Honey, apples from Tiger in the Apple Pie Jam, jalapenos from Tiger in the Jalapeno Raspberry Jam, and onions from Southern Georgia in the Tipsy Onion and Garlic Jam. Gift combos range from $21.99 to $47.99.

My Southern Pantry: Chef/author Virginia Willis’s new line of pantry items is accepting online orders for Christmas until Monday, Dec. 20. Georgia-sourced items include the heirloom cornmeal from Riverview Farms, pecan brownie mix featuring Pearson Farms pecans, and pecan-smoked salt, which is made here in Georgia with local pecan shells. Individual items sell for $6.95 to $9.95; a gift basket including a personalized copy of Willis’ “Bon Appetit, Y’All” cookbook is $79.95. (Through Christmas Eve, look for My Southern Pantry items at all three locations of The Cook’s Warehouse.)

Pine Street Market: Send your meat-loving friends a gift sampler ($22-$78) of house-made sausages, salamis and smoked bacon made from pastured Berkshire pigs raised at Gum Creek Farms. You can even sign them up for a meat-of-the-month club ($120 for three months). Order by Friday, Dec. 17, for guaranteed Christmas delivery.

Savannah Bee Co.: Georgia’s big bee business on the coast offers lots of “bee-crafted” gifts online, including a new Le Creuset gift box featuring a stoneware honey pot, silicone honey dipper and a bottle of Tea Honey for $40.

Sweet Grass Dairy: Georgia’s most famous cheesemaker offers a variety of delicious gifts. Choose a gift box ranging from the $35 “Perfect Pairing” (a half-pound each of Green Hill and Thomasville Tomme, organic crackers and tart cherry preserves) to the $100 “Season’s Best” (featuring seven cheeses plus several pantry snacks), or build your own gift box. The dairy warns that it’s running low on gift-box supplies, so act quickly. And watch the shipping fees: They jump considerably for shipments outside the Southeast.

 

Gift memberships: Buy the locavore on your list a membership to Georgia Organics ($35 and up) or Slow Food Atlanta ($25 and up). Dress ‘em up nice with a T-shirt or cap from Georgia Organics ($15-$20).

Pick up
Local Farmstand: Open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, and 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturdays, the Local Farmstand in Westside is a convenient option for standard farmers market fare. For a gift option, check out the Jenny Jack Sun Farm Grits.

Farmers markets: Special holiday markets will be held this Saturday at Peachtree Road Farmers Market and Sandy Springs Farmers Market. You can also pick up great local-food gifts such as honey, jam and baked goods this Saturday at Decatur Farmers Market and Morningside Farmers Market.

Pine Street Market: Can’t make the online ordering deadline? Owner Rusty Bowers says his Avondale Estates store will be selling its all-natural cider brined, Peachtree smoked hams through Christmas Eve.

 

Do you have suggestions for other delicious gifts featuring naturally grown Georgia ingredients? Feel free to add them to the comments section. Your fellow procrastinors will appreciate the help.