5 minute read
Made in Florida Gift Guide
7 FLORIDA PRODUCTS THAT ADD A LOCAL TOUCH TO HOLIDAY SHOPPING
By Jessica Mozo
’TIS THE SEASON for giving, and we’re on a mission to make holiday shopping a breeze this year. If your friends or relatives yearn for the sand and sea but aren’t lucky enough to live in the Sunshine State, consider sending them some Florida cheer this holiday season.
We’ve rounded up some locally made gift ideas that will bring a slice of sunny Florida to the doorstep of any recipient on your holiday gift list. Edible goodies, wearables and even beauty products made in Florida – there’s something for anyone and everyone who appreciates a little local love.
SOMETHING LUXURIOUS
Want to make someone feel pampered? Naples Soap Company crafts nature-inspired soaps, body butters and sea salt scrubs with pleasing fragrances such as Coconut Lime and Lavender Vanilla. The company was founded by a mom and nurse who struggled with eczema and wanted a natural remedy to make her skin healthier. Naples Soap’s ultra-hydrating Florida Fresh Body Butter gets rave reviews with its uplifting grapefruit and orange scent. Their product lineup also includes shower and bath bombs in relaxing scents, including Ocean Breeze, Pure Paradise and Coconut Water.
naplessoap.com
SOMETHING MADE OF LEATHER
Alligators have long been synonymous with Florida, and Pete Kinnamon’s Alligator Leather in Lakeland specializes in alligator belts and wallets. Kinnamon has been in the alligator business for more than 40 years, and all the alligator hides that are tanned and used in his products are harvested and produced in Polk County. The company’s website offers both alligator belts in stock and ready to ship, as well as custom-made belts. Alligator leather wallets are another great gift idea if you don’t know your gift recipient’s belt size or style. The company also makes alligator money clips, checkbook covers, alligator money clips, checkbook covers, clutch-style purses and more. clutch-style purses and more.
alligatorleather.com alligatorleather.com
SOMETHING WITH KEY LIME
Savor the unforgettable fl avor of the Florida Keys with a Key lime pie from Kermit’s Key West Key Lime Shoppe. Kermit’s Key Lime Pie is the pie that started it all, with a tart Key lime fl avor enveloped in a graham cracker crust and topped with whipped cream. The pies are shipped overnight with dry ice to ensure they arrive fresh. The company also makes a Strawberry Key Lime Pie, Key Lime Pie Bars dipped in dark and white chocolate, Key Lime Fudge, Key Lime Taffy, and Kermit’s Key Lime Pie Candy – a hard candy that lets you take the fl avor of Key lime in your pocket everywhere you go.
keylimeshop.com SOMETHING SWEET
You’ll fall in love with Fort Myers-based Norman Love Confections, which has been named the best premium chocolate company in the United States six times since 2006. The chocolatier’s handsome signature boxes are fi lled with an assortment of 25 premium chocolates, including with an assortment of 25 premium chocolates, including fresh milk chocolates accompanied by dark, white and fresh milk chocolates accompanied by dark, white and gourmet chocolate truffl es. Norman Love Confections gourmet chocolate truffl es. Norman Love Confections even makes holiday baking easy with its gourmet cookie even makes holiday baking easy with its gourmet cookie mixes, so all you have to do is add an egg and butter, stir, mixes, so all you have to do is add an egg and butter, stir, and bake to enjoy oven-fresh gourmet cookies. The and bake to enjoy oven-fresh gourmet cookies. The cookie kits come in double chocolate chunk, chocolate cookie kits come in double chocolate chunk, chocolate chip and oatmeal raisin chip. chip and oatmeal raisin chip.
normanloveconfections.com normanloveconfections.com
SOMETHING OUT OF THIS WORLD
A bright basket of tree-ripened oranges, tree-ripened oranges, grapefruits and grapefruits and tangerines makes tangerines makes any holiday table any holiday table look inviting, and look inviting, and they also make the they also make the perfect holiday gifts. Florida Farm Bureau perfect holiday gifts. Florida Farm Bureau has gathered an appealing collection of festive citrus arrangements and tasty Florida confections with something for everyone on your list. Rest assured that each piece of fruit is shipped within days of being picked off the tree, and every gift carries a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Offerings include oranges, grapefruit, honeybells, apples and pears, as well as chocolate-covered peanuts, Southern pecans, brittle bites, marmalade and other gifts.
What’s more, Farm Bureau members receive a 5% discount. Check out the selection in the online store.
Do you have curious kids on your holiday shopping list? Kennedy Space Center’s freeze-dried Space Food makes a cool, inexpensive gift for science lovers – especially aspiring astronauts. Space Food retails for $4.99 plus shipping, and you can choose from freeze-dried ice cream sandwiches in mint chocolate chip, vanilla or Neapolitan fl avors, freezedried apple slices, or freeze-dried strawberries. Freeze-dried foods were developed to help sustain astronauts on long-duration space fl ights. Order them through Kennedy Space Center’s online Space Shop, which also has tons of other awesome gifts for space enthusiasts.
SOMETHING FRUITY (OR NUTTY)
thespaceshop.com
fl oridasbestfruit.com
SOMETHING FROM THE SEA
Soak this up – while sponges might not be on many holiday wish lists, perhaps they should be. But we’re not talking about store-bought sponges. Tarpon Sponge Company based in Tarpon Springs offers natural sea sponges for bathing, decorating and cleaning. The family-owned business harvests sea sponges straight from the Gulf of Mexico and operates an interesting retail shop on the sponge docks of Tarpon Springs. Additionally, the company has an assortment of seashells and sand dollars, aquatic and nautical gifts, and custommade sponge gift baskets.
