2022 Farmers Market Gift Guide

It may be convenient to get all your holiday shopping done on Amazon or other big retailers, but don’t overlook the farmers market. I love finding gifts that are personal and unique, something the recipient isn’t likely to get from anyone else. Or maybe even think of as something they want, but once they see it, they love it. And honestly, the farmers market is one of the best ways to support small businesses and find little luxuries that are perfect for gift giving. So, without further adieu, here’s my 2022 Farmers Market Gift Guide.

Best of all, you don’t have to visit farmers markets across the country to support these small businesses. All of the gift ideas I reference below will ship across the United States (even to Alaska, in most cases).

For the Fruit Lover: Frog Hollow Farm’s Conserves

One of the biggest booths at the San Francisco Ferry Building Farmers Market is Frog Hollow Farm. They’re always one of the most fun to stop by, as they always have samples of something coming straight off the farm. Everything I have sampled from Frog Hollow has been of amazing quality and flavor, and I am always tempted (and sometimes give in) to bringing home some of their fruit products.

This particular gift set contains a variety of stone fruit preserves, which can be enjoyed beyond the fruit’s natural season. These conserves don’t have to just be used in sweet confections; they can also be used in savory dishes as well. The apricot conserves are perfect for glazing chicken in this sheet pan recipe from Zestful Kitchen. Or you could add peach preserves to your sandwiches as a sweet condiment. Or try the Nectarine and Plum conserves on your favorite scones. The possibilities are endless.

For the Party Host: Sciabica Family Olive Oil

This is my go to gift for any party host, and I’m personally responsible for hooking a lot of people on flavored olive oil. I’ve tried a ton of different flavored olive oils, and Sciabica is by far my favorite. This is because they co-press the ingredients alongside the olives, so you get maximum flavor. These olive oils are perfect for making quick, flavorful salad dressings by just combining with a vinegar of your choice. They’re perfect as a finishing oil, or even for cooking on low heat.

Their gift sets are perfect for trying out multiple different flavors, but not overwhelming the lucky recipient with having to come up with a ton of recipes for any one given flavor.

Jalapeno olive oil is a staple in my pantry and I use it all the time. This is a key ingredient in my Curry Coconut and Carrot Salad and my Shaved Asparagus Salad, amongst many other recipes I haven’t yet gotten the chance to share with all of you. Lime olive oil is another one I use often, most notably in my Whole30 Mojito Salmon. 

For the Sweet Tooth: Bisou Chocolate

If you love chocolate like I do, I highly recommend Bisou chocolate bars. I first tasted Bisou chocolates at the San Francisco Ferry Building Farmers Market, and loved the chocolate so much that I put it in my wedding gift bags. These chocolate bars are the perfect stocking stuffer this Christmas. The chocolate bars are made from single-sourced beans, and you can really tell the flavor differences across the different beans. My personal favorites are CBR, which is a coconut milk chocolate with crispy brown rice, and Esmereldas, a single-sourced bean from Ecuador with fruity notes. 

For the Tea Lover: Yerba Buena Tea Company Chai

The best prepared chai I have ever had in the United States was from Yerba Buena Tea Company. It’s spicy and aromatic, perfect for chilly mornings or for sipping while reading a book. This blend can also be prepared in a cold brew method, which is great for making a chai concentrate for chai lattes. 

Not everyone has a tea strainer or other equipment to make a proper cup of loose leaf tea, so I recommend giving a set of tea filter bags to go alongside the loose leaf tea. This way, you can ensure your recipient is able to enjoy a cup immediately.

For the Spice Hound: ChiLee Oil Spicy Original

My husband and I first tried Chilee Oil at the Renegade Craft Fair in Chicago, IL, and I have been obsessed with this condiment ever since. In fact, when we used up our first jar, I was checking their website daily until it was restocked, and I immediately ordered two jars once it was. 

They have both spicy and mild options, and both are incredibly flavorful. I go for the spicy every time, though, as I don’t find it overwhelmingly spicy and adds great flavor to just about everything. We love using this on kimchi fried rice, making dipping sauces for dumplings, and adding it on top of chicken congee. 

Need more ideas on how to use Chilee Oil? Try using the spicy chili crunch oil as a topping for Kohlrabi Hash Browns, or add some extra flavor in your Butternut Squash Soup. 

For the Home Chef: Far West Fungi’s Porcini Bundle

I’ve always loved stopping by Far West Fungi and seeing what mushrooms are in season and the latest mushroom creations. This Porcini Gift Set contains tons of flavor and options for the home chef to create delicious restaurant-worthy meals at home. It contains dried porcinis, porcini salt, porcini pate, porcini bouillon, and a dried pasta with dried porcinis inside the noodles. Perfect for experimentation. 

Recently, I’ve loved using dried mushrooms when making my husband savory oatmeal to take to work. Of course, you can always rehydrate the dried porcini mushrooms and use them as you would fresh ones. Dried mushrooms add a lot of umami flavor to any dish you’re making.