With the holidays right around the corner, it’s time to finalize your menu for your family get-togethers. Here are some suggestions on how to incorporate locally-made products into your Maryland meal.

Traditional versus trendy

According to the latest data from the USDA, more than 102,000 turkeys  were sold from 135 Maryland farms back in 2017. If you are adding fresh poultry to your meal and are proud to support the small family-owned farms in your area, check out Hillside Turkey Farms  in Thurmont, Purifying Pastures  in Knoxville, or Locust Point Farm  in Elkton.

Looking to skip the turkey tradition? We suggest going with something unexpected. Did you know it is wild oyster season  in Maryland? The fall and winter months are when wild oysters are at their peak, and the Eastern Shore alone has dozens of aquaculture and oyster processing facilities along its coastline. The Maryland Department of Agriculture has an entire website  available to help you find the freshest catch in your region.

Wine and dine

If you’re looking for the perfect pairing to go with your holiday meal, look no further than Old Westminster Winery’s  selection. The winery’s best holiday selections include Terracotta, Nouveau, Origins, Hilltop Road, and PetNat Albarino, which is also one of the company’s most popular choices. If you aren’t local to Westminster, the best place to pick up a bottle is on the winery’s online shop , which ships all orders above $75 for free across the country.

Looking ahead to the new year? Returning in 2022 is the winery’s bi-weekly farmers market , including fresh baked goods, cheese, produce, farm-raised meats, pickles, and more. Be sure to add this stop to your list for future celebrations. Find more information about Maryland wines and wineries .

Coffee and cookies for dessert

No holiday meal is complete without a taste of dessert. With neighboring locations in a Windsor Mill business park, Otterbein’s Cookies  and Gracefully Coffee Roasters  are the perfect match for your after dinner snack.

With a true dedication to providing the highest quality cup, Gracefully Coffee Roasters offers coffee beans and tea blends, as well as a cafe, at its Baltimore County facility. The company also sells a subscription box  for those looking to try a variety of blends without leaving the house… providing the perfect option for a post-dinner drink.

Otterbein’s has been considered a Baltimore tradition since 1881—that’s more than a century ago! The business began when a German family immigrated to Maryland in the 1800’s and set up shop near Fort McHenry. Today, the familiar red and white plaid bag can be found in numerous stores and grocery giants throughout the Mid Atlantic, including Food Lion, Giant, Harris Teeter, ShopRite, and Weis. Find the closest location near you .

Hungry during the holidays

Before you get swept up in the holiday craze, it’s important to remember those struggling with meals and make time to support local nonprofits, such as Farming 4 Hunger , which feeds hundreds of families throughout the Southern Maryland region. The organization is located on Serenity Farm, a 272 acre spot in Charles County.

Farming 4 Hunger grows approximately 1.2 million pounds of produce annually for families in need. The nonprofit also works with more than two dozen other local farms to coordinate donations for the hungry, bringing its produce distribution total up to 2 million pounds per year. For those interested in helping out a worthy cause, Farming 4 Hunger is always looking for donations and volunteers .

Find even more ways to incorporate local ideas by clicking here  or following on Twitter with #BuyLocalMD .