‘Tis the season to love and give local! Luckily, that’s easy to do here on Canada’s Food Island thanks to the bevvy of food and beverage producers serving up gift ideas galore for everyone on your list.Need some inspo to get started? Keep reading for 10 of our favourite spots to shop local across Canada’s Food Island Duinkirken Foods Since opening in 2005, Duinkerken Foods has earned a national reputation for crafting high-quality, healthy, and delicious baking mixes. All while staying true to their ‘free-from’ promise – which includes common allergens such as wheat, dairy, eggs, palm oil, gluten, tree nuts, peanuts, soy, sulphites and sesame. Shop their online store or find their products at national and local retailers. Psssst…. make sure your shopping basket includes their delectable GF Gingerbread Cake Mixes, perfect for gift baskets and/or whipping up to serve at your holiday party! Deep Roots Distillery Family-owned and operated, Deep Roots Distillery is a staple in PEI’s craft beverage scene. Located in Warren Grove, the on-site shop features a wide range of spirits, ciders, ready-to-drink mixes, and liqueurs, many infused with locally-sourced ingredients.From Blueberry Liqueur to Apple Brandy, High Tide Moonshine, Peanut Butter Old-Fashioned, Little Pig Dry Cider and beyond, there’s something for every every taste. Or snag a gift card for their Guided Tour and Infusion Experience.Pro tip: Can’t make it to the distillery? Order online or visit their booth at the Charlottetown Farmers’ Market any Saturday from 9am to 2pm! PEI Preserve Company New Glasgow, PEI may be small in size, but it packs a punch of flavourful gift ideas thanks to its longstanding tenant, the PEI Preserve Company. Pay a visit to their inviting shop and peruse the wide selection of preserves, teas, spices, sauces, cheese, chocolates, giftware, and other goods on offer. They make it super easy to shop for every kind of foodie with pre-made and build-your-own gift boxes at various price points.If you can’t make it to New Glasgow, no problem. Their online shop is fully stocked and shipping is free across North America for orders of $100! Maritime Madness Take the chill out of winter’s arrival with a gift from Maritime Madness. Pop into their Montague outlet or Founders’ Food Hall & Market location in Charlottetown and get ready to be wowed by this PEI-proud business! You’ll find an incredible array of gourmet hot sauces, condiments, sweet treats and more lining their shelves. Shop online and you’ll also be able to filter products by lifestyle/dietary restrictions and heat level. Psssst – if you’re heading to a holiday party early in the season, their hot sauce advent calendar would make the perfect hosting gift. Jane & Sue Chocolate There’s chocolate, and then there’s Jane & Sue Chocolate. And the holiday season is most definitely an occasion to celebrate with the latter.Make your way to Jane & Sue’s cozy chocolate studio in Stanley Bridge for a peek at their chocolate-making process. Let your eyes feast on the many works of chocolate art on offer, from bonbons to bars, festive ornaments, toy trains and many other holiday-inspired creations. Each work of chocolate art is handmade and crafted with the highest-quality chocolate and local ingredients where possible.Pro tip: Treat yourself to a J&S Hot Chocolate and savour the rich, warm cocoa as you shop. Island Honey Wine Have a wine lover with a sweet tooth on your shopping list? Check out Island Honey Wine’s selection of award-winning meads infused with unique flavours including haskap, apple, lavender and winter spice. Their online shop also features a variety of delightful lavender products, edible goodies, and more! COWS Creamery COWS Creamery is a legen-dairy (we couldn’t help ourselves!) PEI icon and their online store makes it easy to shop this season. Melt the hearts of dairy lovers on your list with a selection of COWS award-winning cheeses, premium butters, one-of-a-kind Moo Crisps and more. Purchase items individually or go all out with one of their thoughtfully-curated gift boxes, which includes free Canada-wide shipping. You’re probably wondering about COWS chips. You’ll find them in the Sweet & Cheesy Box as well as their Over the Moon Box or you can buy them individually through their sister company, Anne’s Chocolates, as mentioned below. Myriad View Artisan Distillery The holiday ‘spirit’ takes on a whole new meaning when you visit Myriad Distillery’s online shop. This eastern PEI distillery boasts a line of high-quality artisan liquors that celebrate the Island’s long and storied history of moonshine-making, prohibition, and imbibing in good times.Shop their line of (legal) moonshines, whiskies, rums, brandies and gins for a gift that is sure to stir the spirits! Anne’s Chocolates Kelly Ripa can’t stop raving about COWS chocolate-covered potato chips, which are made in-house at Anne’s Chocolates. Whether you’re shopping for someone who has never experienced the magic of these heavenly salty-sweet wavy snacks or an avid fan, you’ll win them over with this decadent treat. Of course, there’s plenty more to discover in-store and on their online shop. From boxed chocolates to fudge, Raspberry Cordial, caramel corn, condiments, preserves, hot beverages and more, there’s truly something for every sweet tooth and gourmand on your gift list! Canada’s Food Island Gift Card Have a foodie friend who loves planning epic outings? The Canada’s Food Island Gift Card is the perfect choose-your-own-adventure gift. Accepted at over 200 PEI merchants, they can have fun discovering new foodie spots and/or visit their favourite haunts. With every single merchant vetted to ensure they are locally-owned and operated, it’s a great way to ‘Buy Local’ and celebrate the incredible community food producers, restauranteurs, tour operators, and other entrepreneurs that make Canada’s Food Island so special. Entertaining this Holiday Season? The holiday season can be stressful, and the last thing you need to worry about is what you’re going to be cooking when friends and family come to visit. That’s why we’ve put together a festive holiday recipe guide! Follow along with any of the recipes in the guide or try them all if you really want to wow your guests – remember the secret ingredient is local products made right here in Prince Edward Island, Canada’s Food Island!
