Photograph courtesy of Sweet Grass Dairy
Back Creek Farms
Monterey, Virginia
There’s no mistaking the intense, rich flavor of maple syrup boiled over a wood fire. This family-run sugarhouse in the Allegheny Highlands has made small-batch syrups since the early 1800s and now produces varieties infused with cardamom, lavender, and chili pepper.
Broadbent’s Country Smokehouse Meats
Kuttawa, Kentucky
Broadbent’s country ham hasn’t been named a Kentucky State Fair Grand Champion 24 times for nothing: The slow-aged, salt-cured delicacy is a nonnegotiable for holiday dinner tables in these parts. Stock up on sausage and bacon, too.
Conecuh Sausage
Evergreen, Alabama
Although its famed hickory-smoked links are sold in some regional stores, the Evergreen headquarters is a worthy place of pilgrimage for sausage connoisseurs. Eat a sausage dog on-site—the grill is fired up daily—or hit the town’s annual sausage festival on October 17.
Swamp Rabbit Cafe & Grocery
Greenville, South Carolina
From Marsh Hen Mill rice to Broadwater Shrimp Supply seafood, this community hub prioritizes sustainable food sources, buying from more than 300 local farmers and makers. It’s a great spot for an on-site meal, too.
Sweet Grass Dairy
Thomasville, Georgia
This pioneering creamery’s cheese shop evolved into a wildly popular restaurant. But the shop remains, and you can stock up on double-cream Green Hill, earthy Asher Blue, or Thomasville Tomme, a raw cow’s milk variety aged for up to 90 days.
More Down-Home Eats
24 legendary Southern restaurants worth the trip
11 locally loved dishes around the South
Score fresh local bounty at these five standout markets
Indulge in artisan treats at these six bakeries and candy kitchens
This article appears in the Fall 2026 issue of Southbound.
