The Ultimate Local Holiday Gift Basket Guide
Gift giving is stressful. A well-chosen gift demonstrates that the recipient is known while affirming their good taste. The wrong gift, on the other hand, can be singularly disappointing. The stakes are high.
In the face of this challenge many resort to gift cards. Please don’t. Gift cards, neither cash yet nor present, are the coward’s choice. We’re proposing a third way. The way of the local gift basket. We have a formula, and local is an absolutely essential component. More on that later.
Our gift basket formula is, like a fine perfume, layered. It has base gifts that fit every basket and heart gifts that want minor customization. Some will stop there. But truly stellar gift baskets are finished with a top gift, picked especially for your recipient. Our formula is so good you might find yourself with the confidence to improvise.
Base Gifts
Gift basket delight with the appearance of abundance. Start by loading yours with winter fruit. Meyer lemons, clementines, limes, pomegranates, and buddha's hand will start you off with scent, color, and a sense of terroir!
Tuck in a bag of spiced nuts. Local pistachios, almonds and walnuts are at their peak in December, as are dried fall fruits. Buying local elevates these base gifts from fillers to unique treats!
Heart Gifts
Heart gifts are mid-range items that want moderate customization. If you’re shopping for a foodie, consider a local jam and nut butter. If your friend is fashionable, consider a limited edition market tote. A bottle of wine, local cheese, and crackers are crowd pleasers. For neighbors, a bundle of market bucks offers a trip to shop in the sun, hear live music, and bump into neighbors. (Unlike a corporate gift card, these can’t be used online, and will be spent with real individuals).
This is all you need for a great gift basket, but for very special recipients, take a risk, and find a unique top gift!
Basket Toppers
A hand-poured candle, body oil, or a piece of handmade jewelry will make a gift basket personal. Toffee, locally roasted coffee and a ceramic mug makes a basket cozy. A handmade wooden cutting board makes a wine and cheese basket quite refined. The customization is endless. You can’t go wrong, as long as you’re shopping local.
WHY LOCAL?
Local gifts feel special. And just as local produce is evocative of terroir, and handmade gifts communicate a labor of love, a thoughtfully curated a gift basket is evident of the givers time and intention.
Shopping local is also great for local economies! Local artisans create local jobs! Local sales keep tax dollars in the local economy. With lower shipping and less waste, artisans tend to be better for the environment. These tiny businesses, and their unique products, also lend character to our communities (and our farmers’ markets).
There’s still time! Pick up some baskets and have fun filling them!