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

There’s no happier time of year to support local than during the holidays when you can buy high-quality, one-of-a-kind holiday gifts crafted by our vibrant maker community.

As an independent, family-owned and operated Oregon grocer, we know how much Oregonians appreciate their local crafters and makers. That’s why we make it easier for our customers to find local products by stocking them on our shelves.

Here are a few of our favorite local gift ideas for the holidays at Market of Choice.

Oregon Makers

From handmade cards and hand poured candles to sustainable bags and journals, you’re sure to find a unique gift with a personal touch, made right here in Oregon, in our Home & Gift department.

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 great gift choice for the art enthusiast in your life.

Sweet Pea Cole: Sweet Pea is an artist based in Bend who makes quirky cards, stickers, coasters and bags. If you’re looking for a unique stocking-stuffer or Christmas card, check out Sweet Pea Cole’s art.

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.

Puffin: Warm hands lead to a warm heart. From a sleeping bag to a puffer jacket, these cute, Pacific Northwest-inspired cozies will keep your hands warm.

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 healthy and beautiful. This is a great gift idea for your favorite plant parent. Look for Sage Planta in the Floral department.

Build Your Own Local Gift Pack

We make it easy to put together your own local gift pack for the holidays. Simply look for the “gather” end-cap display at your nearest Market of Choice location, where our complementary product experience boxes are displayed. Next, pick up a box and fill it with as many awesome local products as you can find, purchase items, and voila! You now have a specialty gift pack that will make them smile this holiday season. Need ideas for what to put inside your local gift pack? Keep reading!

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

Food as Gifts

Everyone eats. And that’s why food makes a great holiday gift, especially when it’s a unique and special item that most people consider an occasional treat. Look for these festive goodies in the grocery aisles.

Nuts on the Run: Made in Portland, these delicious, ingredient-conscious, thoughtfully sourced nuts are seasoned with innovative flavors that ignite the senses.

PDXPop Popcorn: Now popping in Portland, this snack comes in fun, holiday flavors like Bourbon Eggnog and chocolate peppermint.

Wild Bee Honey Farm: Sweeten the season with raw honey from Oregon bees. Honey is one of those easy, but thoughtful and sophisticated-looking gifts. It also looks oh so cozy in a gift basket alongside their favorite tea.

Peppertux Farm Pistachio Spread: The holidays are a great time for sharing something uncommon, and this tasty alternative to peanut butter is certainly unique. It’s also great for baking!

Monkey Brittle: A crispy, delicious and healthy snack made with just three organic ingredients: tree nuts, bananas and raisins. This is a great gift idea for a health nut.

Hot Beverages

Hot drinks are the perfect cold-weather companions to stay snug all season long. Specialty teas, coffees and cocoas make great stocking stuffers.

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

The Holiday Collection by Steven Smith Teamaker: Festive and cozy blends from renowned tea maker and Portlander, Steven Smith.

One Stripe Chai: This Portland tea company makes beverages inspired by their South Asian heritage with tea and spices sourced from an organic and biodynamic, fourth generation family-owned tea garden in Assam, India.

Momo Cocoa: There’s nothing like curling up with a hot cup of cocoa. This Portland cocoa company set out to make high quality cocoa accessible to all. Most of their products are vegan and all are gluten-free, so anyone can enjoy a steaming cup without worry.

For Cooking

Flavor is the cornerstone of every good meal. That’s why fine salt, seasonings and sauces make exceptional gifts for kitchen enthusiasts.

Jacobsen Salt Co.: Made from salt sourced off the Oregon coast, Jacobsen’s Infused salt set includes pairing notes for each of the six artisanal salts.

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

Hot Mama Chili Oils: For those who like it hot, Hot Mama Chili Oils add a spicy kick to favored meals. These Mexican inspired chili oils are hand produced in a small production kitchen in Portland with fresh, local ingredients.

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.

Joey’s Hot Sauce: Made with the best organic peppers and spices, Joey is whipping up small-batch hot sauces in a variety of heat levels in Ashland, 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.

Bobbie’s Boat Sauce: A little bit spicy, a little bit tangy and layered with complex flavor, Bobbie’s is a go-to sauce to enliven tacos, burritos, eggs, roasted vegetables, curries and fish. Made in Portland.

Wine

Wine is a classic gift choice 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.