Serving Local Goodness for Holiday Feasts

Half the fun of the holiday season is sharing scrumptious meals with friends and family.  We, here in Michigan, are incredibly fortunate that some of the tastiest treats in the world are grown or produced right here.  

Everything from turkey to potatoes, cranberries, onions, celery, pumpkins, squash, milk, cheese, beer, wine and so much more comes from our state.  In fact, Michigan has the second most diverse agricultural portfolio in the nation, producing over 200 commodities commercially.  That makes it relatively easy to keep dollars local, while entertaining loved ones. 

Our Grocery Guide is a great resource to save time when looking for local options.  Here are some particularly festive ideas:

Michigan has quite a few turkey farms where consumers can purchase fresh turkey.  Sometimes those orders have to be placed well in advance, so you can also look for turkey products from the Michigan Turkey Producers, a co-op of family-owned turkey farms throughout the state. 

Ham is another popular alternative as a main course.  You can find many local brands of ham including: Winter's, Dearborn, and Kowalski.  Those companies, along with Koegel's and Alexander and Hornung also produce a variety of meats popular as a entrees, cold cuts, or as appetizers. 

You can't go wrong complementing your main course with locally grown potatoes.  There are 45,000 planted acres of potatoes throughout the state, from the southernmost counties of the Lower Peninsula all the way up into the cold climates of the Upper Peninsula. The state produces more than 700,000 tons of potatoes annually.  The most common varieties to find in your local market are white, russet, and yellow.  The majority of the potato crop becomes chips, so serving up some Better Made, Uncle Rays, Downey, or Great Lakes Potato Chips, is another way of supporting local farmers.

Cranberries are a growing opportunity in the Great Lakes State.  While a little bit harder to find, some markets like Hiller's have begun to carry them.  The Michigan Cranberry Company, formed on an abandoned peat mining operation near Lake Huron in Cheboygan County, is the largest cranberry marsh in Michigan, accounting for three-fourths of the state’s crop.  They harvest over 3 million pounds of cranberries!

This time of year, also means the availability of several winter squash like acorn, butternut, buttercup, hubbard, and spaghetti.  For some families these are a standard portion of any holiday feast, and some have yet to try them.  If you find yourself in the latter group, here are some facts that might make you give them a try: Winter squash varieties are packed with phytonutrients like beta carotene that have been shown to reduce the likelihood of some cancers.  Plus, one serving of winter squash contains more than the daily recommendation for vitamin A; almost a third of the daily requirement of vitamin C, potassium, fiber and manganese; and good amounts of folate, omega 3 fatty acids, vitamin B1, B3, B5, B6, copper and tryptophan, the natural chemical associated with a good night’s sleep. 

Topping off a holiday feast is a joy in and of itself.  If you're a baker there are great ingredients available like fresh apples and pumpkins, and brands like Big Chief and Pioneer sugars, Jiffy mixes, and for dairy products: Calder, Bareman's, Guernsey, Zingerman's, and more.  If you'd rather make a call than bake a pie, order up amazing desserts from Achatz or Grand Traverse pie companies.  In my house, homemade treats are almost always supplemented with an infamous Sander's Bumpy Cake. 

The perfect meal isn't complete without the perfect accompanying beverage.  Milk is an easy find thanks to the dairy producers previously sited.  If pop is more your style, consider Faygo, Town Club, or root beer from Frankenmuth Brewing Company. 

Speaking of brewing, Michigan  is now one of the nation's most celebrated beercrafting states.  There are numerous choices available, but some of the more widely available brands include: Short's, Bell's, Founders, Atwater, and even Kid Rock's Badass American Lager (from Michigan Brewing Company).  There are some incredibly unique tastes out at this time of year as well, suitable for serving or gifting like: Sander's Chocolate Stout (from Detroit Beer Co.), Arcadia Ales' Jaw-Jacker, and Kuhnhenn's Oatmeal Stout. 

Last, but not, least, how about a delicious Michigan wine to pair with your meal?  There are so many wineries from which to choose, I can't possibly name them all, but here again are a few of the more commonly found in markets: St. Julian, Tabor Hill, Grand Traverse, L. Mawby, Black Star, and Leelanau Cellars. 

With all these food choices, it's impossible for me to guess what you'll serve...but once you've decided, check out these Food Pairing Suggestions from Michigan Wines, to help you find just the right bottle of vino.