Gift Local: Your Guide to Buying Locally Made Gifts for the Holidays

It’s no secret that some of the best sauces, foods, crafts, and innovative products on the market are made here in Oregon. And the holidays are a great time to support local makers by sharing the best of the best with those you love. So, stop by and pick up a bottle of your uncle’s favorite locally made hot sauce for Christmas. Or, grab a Willamette Valley wine from Community Cellars as a hostess gift. Wander the aisles and find that special hand-poured candle, wild Oregon honey, or illustrated card to say, “I was thinking of you.” Buying local is a great way to show gratitude to our maker community, to give back, and to gift it forward.

If you want to surprise the special people in your life with thoughtful and beautiful gifts this holiday season while supporting your local maker community, this guide is for you.

Gifts That Capture the Spirit of Oregon

From handmade cards and hand-poured candles to sustainable bags and journals, you’re sure to find a unique and personalized local gift idea in our Home & Gift department. Here are a few of our favorite things from Oregon’s maker community.

Elle Cree: These beautiful paint-by-number kits, created by Portland illustrator Elle Cree, are inspired by a diverse array of natural items, including botanicals and still life. This is a unique and distinctly PNW gift idea for the art enthusiast in your life.

Sweet Pea Cole: From Bend, Oregon, this spirited artist makes quirky cards, stickers, coasters and bags. Check out Sweet Pea Cole’s art if you’re looking for a fun stocking stuffer or Christmas card.

Cognitive Surplus: Designed in Central Oregon, these hand-made sustainable bags, mugs, and journals show off the beauty of science.

Broken Top Candles: Hand poured in Bend, these candles are free of parabens and phthalates. They are also gluten-free and cruelty-free.

Sage Planta: These plant care products are made in the Pacific Northwest using quality organic ingredients. From rooting powder to insect control, these products work hard to keep plants naturally healthy and beautiful. This is a great gift idea for a proud plant parent. Look for Sage Planta in the Floral department.

Build Your Own Local Gift Box

We make it easy to put together your own local gift box for the holidays. Simply look for the “Gather” end-cap display at your nearest Market of Choice location and pick up a free product box from the display. Next, fill it with as many awesome, locally made products as possible. Purchase your items, and voila! You now have a specialty gift box to make anyone smile this holiday season. Need ideas for what to put inside your local gift box? Keep reading!

Pro Tip: Here’s how to use our grocery bags as gift wrap.

Oregon Made Food as Gifts

Food makes a great holiday gift for several reasons. First, everyone eats. Second, most people enjoy eating, especially in the winter when the weather is cold and food is comforting. When gifting food, look for specialty items that most people consider an occasional treat. Here are some of our favorite, locally made products that are beautifully packaged and totally gift-worthy from the grocery aisles.

Blissful Spoon Granola: From Bend, Oregon, this woman-owned and family-operated company blends organic granola with ingredients sourced from local producers, including freeze-dried or naturally dried fruits. No salt or sugar is added, so you get a pure whole-food product perfect for a vegan or gluten-free diet. A great gift for anyone who enjoys good-tasting food without harmful ingredients.

Wild Bee Honey Farm: Sweeten the season with this raw honey carefully sourced from Oregon bees. Honey is one of those easy but thoughtful and sophisticated-looking gifts. And, with its beautiful label depicting Oregon’s mountain range, Wild Bee Honey Farm honey will look oh-so cozy in a gift basket alongside the recipient’s favorite tea.

Pans Mushroom Jerky: These delicious mushroom snacks from Portland, Oregon, are made according to a Malaysian recipe handed down through generations of the maker’s family. A BIPOC-owned company, Pan’s Mushroom Jerky is packed with umami flavor and a meaty texture, making it a great replacement for meat. This is a great gift for vegetarians, campers, and mushroom enthusiasts.

Pistakio Pistachio Spreads: The holidays are a great time for sharing something just a little different from the ordinary, and these delicious butters and spreads from a Portland, Oregon company are certainly unique. Pistachio spread is also great for baking, making it a great gift for connoisseurs and those who enjoy baking their own goodies at home.

Monkey Brittle: From a small family operation in Hood River, Oregon, this crispy, delicious and healthy snack is made with just three organic ingredients: tree nuts, bananas and raisins. Monkey Brittle is a great local gift idea for the health nut in your life.

Soul Seeds: Benny Boy’s Savory Pepitas are handmade in the Columbia River Gorge, Oregon. Pumpkin seeds are a great source of protein and all nine essential amino acids. Benny’s flavored pepita snacks are the perfect addition to your local gift box.

Oregon Crafted Hot Beverages

Hot drinks are the perfect cold-weather companions to keep you snug all season long. Specialty teas, coffees and cocoas make thoughtful stocking stuffers and Christmas gifts from Oregon. Here are a few of our favorite, locally made brews and cocoas.

Portland Coffee Roasters Holiday Roast: A delicious and festive blend with notes of brown sugar, spice and chocolate.

Mythos Brew: This enchanting, woman-owned company from Portland, Oregon, makes coffee and loose-leaf tea blends with names inspired by Greek mythology. Enjoy Persephone’s Hazelnut Harvest, Temple of Heaven Green Tea and more. Beautifully packaged and gift-box ready, these hot drinks are a must-have holiday item.

Tea Bar: These beautifully packaged, high quality, fair trade teas from family farms worldwide are blended in Portland, Oregon. Tea Bar is a woman-owned company with two brick-and-mortar shops in NW and SE Portland. These teas are sold at any Market of Choice, making them easily accessible, even outside town.

Plants by People: Blending the knowledge of Eastern medicine with modern science, this woman-owned BIPOC company from Beaverton, Oregon, makes natural drink mixes that enliven the senses and wake up the body. With special formulas for relaxation, detoxing, and energy, there’s a plant-based remedy for everyone in this collection. Every box is artistically designed and totally gift-worthy.

Momo Cocoa: This Portland, Oregon company makes high-quality cocoa accessible to all. Most Momo Cocoa products are vegan and all of them are gluten-free so that anyone can enjoy a steaming cup without worry. This is the perfect gift for anyone who enjoys a classic cup of cocoa.

Oshala Farms Tea Blends: This family-owned, regenerative farm in Southern Oregon grows herbs that support health. With blends for restful sleep, digestion, and respiratory wellness, these teas make a thoughtful gift.

Oregon Made Spices for Cooking

Flavor is the cornerstone of every good meal. That’s why fine salts, seasonings and sauces make exceptional gifts for kitchen enthusiasts and anyone who enjoys a flavorful meal at home.

Jacobsen Salt Co.: Made from salt sourced off the Oregon coast, Jacobsen’s Infused salt collection is packaged in gorgeous, gift-worthy tins and includes pairing notes for each of the six artisanal salts. Be sure to check out their Pinot Noir Salt and Salty Caramel Sauce, too!

Plant Bomb! Sauces: This Portland-based maker takes flavor to the next level with all-vegan, ethnic-inspired simmer sauces made with only a handful of ingredients.

Chili Royale Chili Crisp: For those who enjoy turning up the heat and flavor, Chili Royale delivers. Chili crisp oils are a great way to elevate recipes and make every meal a masterpiece. This is a woman-owned company in Bandon, Oregon.

Oregon Made Hot Sauces

Hot sauce is something of a collector’s item for foodies, so it comes as no surprise that a novel hot sauce is a well-received gift by those who love flavor and variety. Here are some all-time favorites from our neck of the woods.

Sakari Farms Hot Sauce: These hot sauces highlight the flavor of the tribal peppers that are grown on the maker’s regenerative farm and incorporated into the sauce without overpowering heat. Sakari has an impressive selection of hot sauce flavors and heat levels, so you’re sure to find a sauce for every taste. All proceeds from sales go to support the Sakari Farms Tribal Education Program, an on-farm education program for tribal and county residents of Tumalo, a community near Bend, Oregon.

Bend Sauce: As the name (not so subtly) hints, this deeply rich and balanced chipotle hot sauce is made in Bend, Oregon, using seven organic ingredients.

Joey’s Hot Sauce: Made with the best organic peppers and spices, Joey whips up small-batch hot sauces at various heat levels in Ashland, Oregon.

Oregon Wine & Craft Beverages

Wine is a classic gift for a dinner host, co-worker, or anyone who enjoys swirling a nice vintage. Fortunately, there’s no better place to get beautifully made wine than in the Willamette Valley.

Here are a few great choices from our own label, Community Cellars. Crafted for us by the dynamic Willamette Valley wine community, these wines are beautifully expressive of place, balanced, and food-friendly.

Community Cellars Pinot Gris: Complex and balanced with lush ripe melon, mango, apple, and a hint of baking spices on the finish.

Community Cellars Tempranillo: A bright, food-friendly red with notes of red fruits and spices, redolent of a Spanish Joven.

Place Pinot Noir: The latest addition to MoC’s private label collection, Place Wine, comes from the lush and beautiful lands of Dundee Hills. This classic Pinot Noir truly embodies the earthy and fresh, fruity flavors of Oregon.

Dappled Tonic: These Non-alcoholic craft beverages from a woman-owned company in Albany, Oregon, come in three flavors: Floral, Citrus, and Aromatic. A versatile drink that can be enjoyed over ice, or mixed with spirits, Dappled Tonics make a beautiful addition to any gift basket. Look for them in the Beer & Wine department.

Oregon Made Chocolates and Truffles

Looking to elevate your stocking-stuffer game this year? Gourmet chocolates, truffles, bonbons and fine candies will make the grade. Luckily, you don’t have to visit the specialty shops to find these local favorites. Just stop by your Market Bakery and get gift-worthy candies while you pick up your weekly groceries. Here are a couple of our favorites.

Euphoria Chocolates & Truffles: Made in Eugene, Oregon, this local gourmet treasure will delight any chocolate lover. Makes a great Christmas gift from Oregon.

Burst’s Chocolates: Made in Corvallis, Oregon, these fine chocolates come in whimsical themes, like the Chocolate Bigfoot or Hazelnut Beavers.

As an independent, family-owned and operated Oregon grocer, we believe in the power of community, and we know you do too. The holidays are a great time to show your support to local crafters, makers, innovators, and creators of goodness and wonder. Find the perfect gift-worthy products made by real people from your community here at Market of Choice. And let us know what fabulous local gift box ideas you have! Follow, tag, and share with us on all your favorite social platforms.