We’ve all got them: the challenging folks on the gift list. The curious, discerning and worldly ones who have tried it all and seem to have sixth sense for trends and “it” products before anyone even knows about them. This is the list for them. We’ve collected 9 niche, on-trend gifts from PA farmers and makers to delight the discerning foodies on your list.
What’s old is new these days, and we’re seeing a resurgence of ancient techniques and a return to ancestral practices and goods. These trends mark a social movement towards more sustainable production, what’s familiar and trustworthy quality in uncertain times. It’s exciting to see new innovations with time-tested goods and ingredients!
Fermented Sauces
Fermented sauces bring a bit of magic to any dish. They’ve undergone mysterious scientific transformations before they even reach your kitchen, and their tangy, zesty sourness and bold complexity are unmatched.
Vinegar undergoes a two-part fermentation that gives it that signature acidic pungency. Specialty vinegars are hot with home chefs for their innovative flavors and versatility. Keepwell Vinegar in Dover offers some of PA’s finest artisanal vinegars, including over 25 mouthwatering flavors like Fig and Leaf Vinegar and Arionia Berry Vinegar.
Miso, a fermented soybean paste, is another secret weapon for unlocking umami flavor in the kitchen. Treat your favorite foodie to Keepwell’s White Miso, on the light and sweet side, or the robust and earthy Black Walnut Miso. Keepwell also offers Gochujang, a fermented paste made from rice that’s broken down by malted Pennsylvania grain and takes sauces to the next level.
Sourdough Chili Crisp by Mighty Bread Co.
Chili crisp is another (sometimes) fermented sauce having its heyday with foodies. Check out the Sourdough Chili Crisp, made by with fermented bread, by Mighty Bread Company in Philadelphia for a guaranteed gifting success.
Orange Wine
Not long ago, white and red wines made room for rosé, which took over the scene with its pretty pink aesthetic, versatility and food friendliness. These days, look out for orange wine, an amber-hued beauty on the rise. It’s made by fermenting white wine grapes with their skin and seeds, an ancient (6,000 B.C., or so) Georgian technique. Also commonly known as skin contact wine, it’s bold and complex, offering a “new” and distinct experience for wine lovers.
Skin contact wine by Pray Tell Wines
Several PA winemakers produce orange wines, some shippable and some requiring a quick jaunt to the local winery (there could be worse errands). Pray Tell Wines has made a splash with its Orange Popsicle wine produced in Philadelphia with nearby Nottingham-grown Chardonnay and Oregon-grown Albariño. It’s bright and structured, pairing well with numerous cuisine types.
ANXO’s 2024 Skin Contact Vidal Blanc is another lovely option available for shipping, made with grapes from Hauser Vineyards in Biglerville. It’s unfiltered and unfined with notes of pear, lunch box fruit cup (!) and limestone.
Anthony Vetri was light years ahead of the curve with La Prima Donna, his amber field blend produced since 2002 at Va La Vineyards in Avondale. It was the first orange wine in the state and remains a darling of sommeliers and in-the-know wine drinkers willing to make the trip to his charming, unpretentious winery in southern Chester County.
Bison Roots Orange by Fero Vineyards & Winery
Western Pennsylvanians will find the delightful Bison Roots Orange by Fero Vineyards in Lewisburg. Made with Pinot Gris, it’s super dry and smooth. Those in SEPA and south central PA can head to renowned Vox Vineti in Christiana for 2021 Tropus, a skin-fermented blend of Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc. And keep an eyeout for Ño, a “peculiar maceration” Albariño by Therein Wine in Kutztown, to be released very soon.
Heirloom-Quality Cookware
There’s nothing quite like cast iron cookware. There’s this feeling of pride that comes with using such a hefty, time-worn item made from a molten element. Cast iron pans are virtually indestructible and actually improve with age, developing a smooth patina from use. Cooks love them for their versatility – usable on the stovetop, oven and grill – and superior heat retention. They’re also free of chemical coatings, which have raised some serious concerns among consumers.
In the late 19th Century, Erie-based Griswold Manufacturing began making cast iron cookware, which has since become something of a collector’s item. You can find authentic Griswold pans, skillets, Dutch ovens, griddles, spatulas and more on Etsy and eBay, which make for super cool vintage gifts. The Vintage Kitchen in Allentown is another great spot for finding collectible kitchenware for the foodies in your life.
For fresh-from-the-furnace cast iron cookware, check out the selection from Stargazer in Allentown. These beautiful pans feature naturally non-stick surfaces and stay-cool handles in 10.5 inch, 12 inch and 13.5 inch sizes, with lids available, too.
Tallow
Tallow – or, beef fat – is having a moment. As part of the trend towards natural, chemical-free products, this byproduct of the meat industry is now the skin care product du jour. It’s lauded for clearing up and smoothing out skin, with claims that its fatty acids work wonders on any complexion. For meat farmers, it’s a fabulous value-added channel and, for consumers, a way to “clean up” the cosmetic cabinet.
Give the gift of a glow-up with tallow from Pennsylvania farms and makers, who ship right to your door. Tallow lotions from Greenwood Valley Farms in Millville come in uber-appealing scents like cracklin’ birch, wild rose and pumpkin soufflé. Among its many body care products, Livengood Family Farm in Lancaster offers whipped tallow butter and tallow salve. Rocking K Tallow in Airville produces a veritable spa with numerous products like makeup remover, beard balm, diaper cream, hand poured candles and charcoal facial scrub, plus goodies for the kitchen like cooking tallow and cast iron seasoning.
Plant-Based Snackables
Plant-based eating is more than a trend. It’s a holistic solution to health, environmental, economic and food system issues. The plant-based food market is growing astronomically and expected to triple in the next 10 years. For many, eating plant-based involves a series of small shifts rather than an all-or-nothing lifestyle reboot. Plant-based snackables allow people to swap out processed, fatty and salty go-tos for healthier and more filling options, little changes that really add up over the long term.
As the number one mushroom-producing state in the country, Pennsylvania is home to some incredible mushroom snacks. PA-based Giorgio Foods grows hundreds of millions of pounds of mushrooms in PA, and making its own mushroom snacks was a logical next step. Its Savory Wild brand in Temple produces a savory, meaty Portobello Mushroom Jerky in flavors like roasted garlic and black pepper and smokehouse bacon – all vegan. Bennet Run Mushroom Farm in York Haven produces blue oyster and shiitake Mushroom Jerky in original and mild, a similarly savory, chewy and scrumptious snack.
Kingdom Kale in Phoenixville takes plant-based snacking to new heights with its line of kale chips. “People love the flavors, clean ingredients and the fact that they are made with love,” says founder Vincent DePaul. “It’s the snack that gives back, with 10% of all sales going to feeding people in need with free, healthy plant-based meals, juices, smoothies and fresh organic produce.”
Much like with their less-healthy cousin, the potato chip, you certainly cannot eat just one of these crispy seasoned kale chips, which come in spicy red hot, nacho cheese, ginger date and cheesy garlic varieties. They’re great stocking stuffers or a super cool subscription option for all-year-long snacking.
Kingdom Kale kale chips
On the sweet side, dehydrated fruits are growing in demand. East Valley Food in Easton offers Fruit & Yogurt Bits and Smoothie Bits with protein-added vanilla yogurt pieces, and Kauffman Orchards in Bird In Hand has Freeze Dried Apples in varieties like Pink Lady, Crimson Crisp and Goldrush.
Finally, we love the bold and interesting flavors of Unruly Nature Granola, both plant based and gluten free. We suggest putting a bow on the very grown-up Touch of Old Fashioned, inspired by the cocktail and the seasonal Oh, Snap! with molasses, ginger and turmeric.
Foraging Guides and Cookbooks
Since the pandemic, foraging has taken off, and it’s no wonder. Hunting for wild food offers a purpose-driven way to connect with nature and learn about the flora around us. Many trending PA restaurants feature foraged ingredients, or “find dining,” which appeal to the hunter-gatherers within us.
As the practice rises in popularity, its important to follow safety and ethics guidelines. Guide books can help us distinguish between plants and understand how to forage responsibly. Barbora Bartakova (aka the Fungi Woman), a Pittsburgh area mushroom expert, recently published Hunting Mushrooms, How to Safely Identify, Forage and Cook Wild Fungi. It’s a stunning guide full of her magnificent photography, identification details and recipes from her native Czech Republic.
Barbora Bartakova
For an oldie but goodie, check out Edible Wild Plants of Pennsylvania and Neighboring States by Richard J. Medve and Mary Lee Medve. It contains detailed plant information, a guide to toxic lookalikes, plant illustrations and nutritional information.
Finally, Debbie Naha-Koretzky (aka the Wild Edibles Lady) wrote two fabulous guides, Foraging Pennsylvania and New Jersey: Finding, Identifying, and Preparing Wild Edible Foods and Northeastern Forager’s Cookbook: The Best Recipes Using Wild Edibles from Maryland to Maine, featuring recipes like wild berry compote and garlic mustard quesadillas.
Protein Power
You’ve probably noticed, and have perhaps embraced, the protein boom. Consumers cannot get enough of this macronutrient and brands are racing to offer the most grams per serving. Though it’s been there all along, protein has become the “it kid” of the moment for a number of reasons. It promotes muscle growth and weight loss simultaneously, appealing across consumer sectors. It also supports stable energy and blood sugar levels, providing a feeling of balance.
Many makers in Pennsylvania produce sweet snacks and powders for easy, any time fuel. They make great gifts for foodies with an interest in fitness, and those focused on optimal eating. Muscleicious in Easton offers a line of protein pudding, protein balls, protein bars and protein powder, available for order online and in-person at a number of PA locations. Be Free Bars, created by a registered dietician in Erie, are sold at retailers throughout the region and include tantalizing flavors like blondie coffee and blueberry burst.
Righteous Felon jerky and meat sticks
For carnivores, jerky is an excellent source of protein and abundant in Pennsylvania. Righteous Felon in Exon offers craft jerky, meat sticks and biltong in flavors like Teryiaki Balboa and O.G. Hickory. Its gift bundles make for the perfect protein presents.
Big John’s Beef Jerky in York offers festive jerky canes and combo pack subscriptions and Matt-Hat Jerkey in Bethlehem ships scrumptious and health-conscious jerky gift boxes. And, don’t forget about PA food icon, venison. Protein-packed venison and elk meat snacks are available from Shaffer Farms in Henrndon in a variety of tempting sizes and flavors.
Specialty Salts
At-home gourmet cooking is on the rise, and with it: specialty salts. Chefs and foodies seek these out as simple yet exciting ingredients for deepening and enhancing flavors.
Drew Zimmerman (aka Unkle Fungus) in Lancaster, known for farmed and foraged mushrooms, creates a line of utterly artful salts and seasonings that capture the deep umami of his fungi. The crème de la crème is Morel Mushroom Garum Salt, made with hand-picked wild morels, “garum” (fish sauce) and sea salt and undergoing a series of fermentation, dehydration and rehydration processes that take over a year. He also offers foraged Ramp Salt, Fermented Garlic Honey Salt and Koji Tomato Basil Salt, each tantalizing in their own way.
Specialty salt by Unkle Fungus Mushrooms
Steel City Salt Company in Pittsburgh sells infused salt and blends in wide spectrum of tasty, PA-proud varieties. Pierogi salt goes great on the Steel City’s famed dumplings while the Black and Gold Blend enhances barbecue and game-day dishes with its smoky sweetness. Maple jalapeño offers a pop of sweet-hot and matcha green salt plays well well desserts. Small Batch Kitchen in Lansdale also produces infused sea salts in flavors like roasted garlic and a coarse hickory smoked variety with a grinder cap.
Finishing salts add a final layer of complexity and crystalline crunch to completed dishes. Humming Hills Farm in Hamburg offers a delectable array of finishing salts to choose from (in addition to infused extra virgin olive oils), which ship to your door. Add heat with ghost pepper thyme and jalapeño cilantro, or savory umami with truffle onion and porcini rosemary. Gift sets, also available, offer the luxury of variety. Humming Hills Farm owner Jodi Gauker says, “We grow or locally source all the herbs and peppers. If we can’t grow it or find it locally, it doesn’t go in our products.” A sprinkle is plenty, so these gifts should last for quite some time.
Finishing salts by Humming Hills Farm in Hamburg
Artisanal Gift Boxes
The farm to table movement started long ago, yet the demand for farm fresh food only continues to grow. The diminishing distance between farmers and consumers is evidence of a ever-rising focus on environmental impact, hyper-local sourcing and transparency. Farmers markets and CSAs have seen dramatic growth in recent decades, as conscious consumers seek healthier options. Plus, locally-grown, farm fresh food really does taste better! For the discerning foodie in your life, we’ve got a handful of special artisanal gift boxes to check out. Don’t hesitate to call your own favorite local farmers and producers to see what options they may have, too.
“Turophiles” (cheese lovers) of all stripes would love to get their hands on a Birchrun Hills farm gift box, available for pickup in a handful of SEPA locations. These handcrafted, award-winning cheeses, produced with high-quality milk of the owners’ Holstein herd in Chester Springs, range from bleu and brie-like Camembert to cheddar, farmhouse and Alpine styles. For exceptional cheese that’s shippable to your doorstep, check out the selection of gift boxes from Calkins Creamery in Honesdale. Its raw milk cheeses include brie, gruyere, Havarti and many more tasty options.
For fruit lovers, look no further than Subarashii Kudamono in Kempton for exquisite, Pennsylvania grown Asian pears. The fresh fruit gift boxes, which ship throughout the state, allow you to custom select pear varieties or let the orchard experts curate for you. Once picked, Asian pears stop ripening, so Sabarashii Kudamono picks and wraps them at peak ripeness, for optimal enjoyment. They last up to a month in the refrigerator, making them a lovely, lasting gift. Foodies will enjoy trying out recipes that showcase this fruit’s ability to go gourmet.
A Subarashii Kudamono pear gift box
Maple farms abound in Pennsylvania, and maple syrup and other maple products make superb wintertime gifts. Russell Maple Farms in Rome offers maple gift boxes with maple syrup, cream, sugar and other goodies. Patterson Maple Farm’s online shop is brimming with specialty maple treats like syrup, BBQ sauce, fudge and ice cream toppings that ship from Westfield.
We hope you’ve found something for everyone – and perhaps yourself! – in this niche and on-trend collection. We’re grateful to all of the PA farmers and makers who keep pushing their craft forward and evolving our experiences as consumers.
- Feature, vinegar, cast iron, mushroom and cheese photos: Bigstock
- Tallow photo: Canva
- All other photos: Courtesy of the respective business
