Would you like to support your local businesses, even while social distancing? Amazon is not the only game in town when it comes to online shopping. In fact, you can order many local goods online, and you don’t even need to scour the reviews to get quality merchandise and service. If you’re hoping for convenient access to your favorites as well as the chance to avoid crowds, read on for a roundup of Valley businesses offering alternative ways to shop for their food, wine and cider, and gifts and merchandise.
Local Food and More
In these days of once-a-week shopping trips to stock up on the staples and toilet paper, it’s important to include some indulgences, too. Here are some of our favorite businesses offering the basics, specialty items, and more.
Harrisonburg Farmers Market
The Harrisonburg Farmers Market has moved online. Vendors are working hard to make sure the community enjoys its customary access to the freshest local products. Choose from fresh produce, meat, dairy, baked goods, cider, flowers, soaps, coffee, syrup, wine, chocolate, and everything in between. Order online from as many different vendors as you want and receive a package with all your items by delivery or drive-through pickup.
Jon Henry General Store
Jon Henry General Store in New Market stocks a wide array of local and regional goodies including a variety of local foods and fresh veggies, gifts, memorabilia, and toys. Visit their site to place your food order and select meats, cheese, milk from local creameries, and fresh bread and produce. Treat yourself to something fun like their bestselling meat and fruit jerky or white bean crackers.
For your convenience, the store accepts online orders for curbside pickup.
Persimmon Ridge Farm
Persimmon Ridge Farm in Berryville provides high-quality, locally and ethically raised pork that is processed in an Animal Welfare Approved facility. The farm provides online ordering for link and bulk sausage, pork cuts and lunch meat, fresh bread, and pasture-raised eggs. Try some kielbasa with cheese and peppers or some rosemary garlic sausage. Persimmon Ridge Farm will deliver within a 20-mile radius of the farm. Customers may also pick up their purchases at the farm or at the Clarke County Farmers’ Market.
Sweet Nana Cakes
To make your day special, order something wonderful from Augusta County’s Sweet Nana Cakes. This locally owned custom bake shop creates cakes and cookies for every occasion. Choose from over 30 different flavors of cupcake, KETO treats, and a wide selection of decorated cookies, including platters of veggie-shaped cookies. Netflix bingers will go wild for the Mayhem & Madness gift set featuring Tiger King-themed cookies presented in a gift box with animal-print tissue paper.
Libations from the Valley
The Shenandoah Valley has made a name for itself with wineries, cideries, and breweries that fill our glasses with the best of Virginia. While the atmosphere and incredible views of the tasting rooms are something to celebrate, the products are also available for enjoyment at home. Here are a few of our favorites.
Cave Ridge Vineyard
Mount Jackson’s family-owned Cave Ridge Vineyard has been offering estate-grown Virginia wines since 2005. Select from red, white, and sparkling wines as well as sangria, dessert wine, and mulled wine kits. Try a bottle of Summer Splash or Sparkling Raspberry Noir to kick off summer. Along with discount codes and discounts for wine club members, Cave Ridge provides curbside pickup, local delivery and free ground shipping on orders of six or more bottles.
Star in the Valley Estate Winery
Star in the Valley Estate Winery in Strasburg specializes in producing small batch wines with flavors unique to the Shenandoah Valley. They bottle five different varietals and blends that reflect four generations of grape growing experience. Grab a few bottles of Field Star White or Dry Rosé to enjoy while gazing at the stars from your backyard. You can schedule a curbside pickup if you’re in the area or have your wine shipped to your home.
Showalter’s Orchard and Greenhouses & Old Hill Cider
Showalter’s Orchard and Greenhouses & Old Hill Cider in Timberville has not been idle during the past few months. They’ve worked on releasing new ciders, including a sparkling non-alcoholic apple juice for all ages to enjoy. They also now sell popular hard ciders Off the Press and Virginia Strawberry in cans, perfect for taking home. Stock up on your favorite hard or sweet ciders, cider donuts, or handmade face masks by visiting Showalter’s website to place an online order for pickup, delivery (within 25 miles), or shipping.
Barren Ridge Vineyards
We all need less stress in our lives and along with the great taste and relaxing qualities of their award-winning wines, Barren Ridge Vineyards offers over a dozen of their fine wines for purchase online. Sample their 2017 Riesling or the ever-popular Red Barren. Choose between sixteen reds, whites, and rosés. Wine can be purchased online for curbside pickup or delivery by mail.
Unique Gifts
It’s hard to find the right gift for someone without actually browsing the shelves. Fortunately, these shopkeepers have done the work for you, finding artsy, eclectic, practical, and interesting gifts to please both body and spirit. Peruse their inventory for unique finds for everybody on your list.
Sugar Maple Trading Company
Lexington’s Sugar Maple Trading Company strives to provide people with the resources that make celebrating each day fun, simple, and easy to do. From stationery to DIY kits to tableware to custom gift baskets, Sugar Maple Trading Company has you covered. They even have a handy gift inspiration tool to help make choosing the right gift a little more straightforward. You can pick up your purchases or have them delivered or shipped.
Walkabout Outfitter
If you’ve been exploring the trails this spring, freshen your wardrobe and gear stash with the help of Walkabout Outfitter in Lexington. Walkabout Outfitter carries many high-quality, trusted brands of clothing and footwear for men, women, and children as well as bags and packs, camping equipment, and books and maps. Serving customers by appointment, curbside, online, or over the phone, the knowledgeable staff can recommend the right gear for you, no matter your experience level.
Faded Poppy Mercantile
Waynesboro’s Faded Poppy Mercantile’s gift shop is full of unique small-batch products that are eco-friendly or give back to the community. You can buy fresh flowers, cards and gift baskets for many occasions, clothing, candles, jewelry, and items for kids or pets. Novelty finds include hand-painted and sewn fashion dolls of notable people and Covid gift baskets. Order items online and pick them up or have them shipped.
Pyramid
Another Waynesboro business, Pyramid, brings magick supplies to your fingertips. From home goods, locally made jewelry, and self care, to magick and crystals, there’s something for everyone here. At Pyramid you’ll find bouquets, smoke cleanses, serving trays, no-kill bones, antlers, and shells, lotions and facial treatments, herbal teas and tonics. There’s even a raw honey bar and herbal tea station. Pick up your items at the store or have them shipped for free if they total over $60.
Harmony Moon
Dedicated to “helping people live gentler lives,” Staunton’s Harmony Moon is packed with gifts for the home, garden, personal care, and much more. You’ll enjoy browsing their selections of quarantine survival kits that include pastimes like puzzles, crafts, and educational kits for the kids, and personal items like masks, soaps, and massage oils. Harmony Moon ships items for free if the order totals more than $49.
Made; By The People, For the People
Staunton’s Made; By the People, For the People, a “modern-day general store” has a little bit of everything. Specializing in Virginia-made treats and a quirky selection of gifts and books, the store celebrates the creativity of local, regional, and domestic artists. Shop online and keep yourself entertained in quarantine with novelty sets of trivia cards packaged in cassette boxes and 500-piece gin-themed jigsaw puzzles. Try out some soothing lotion or candles, or root for your home town with Staunton-themed swag.
The Lady Jane
Harrisonburg’s The Lady Jane Shop is a well-curated gift shop showcasing the art, jewelry, and designs of more than 30 Virginia-based artisans. The new online store allows you to shop many of the wares virtually, and you can swing by to pick up your purchases or have them shipped or locally delivered. Check out the handmade cards, gifts for grads, DIY kits, jewelry, candles, and home decor. Proceeds from select items will be donated to the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank. The Lady Jane also has a pet food pantry to support service industry workers impacted by Covid-19.
Explore More Discovery Museum
You might not be taking the kids to Harrisonburg’s Explore More Discovery Museum right now, but you can still treat them to a museum-like educational experience with a $15 discovery kit. The kits each contain several activities and are packed with everything you need, including videos and instruction cards for each. Choose from three kits: Fizz, Foam, and Float,Take Flight, or Making Masterpieces. Order kits and other gift shop items online and enjoy contactless pickup at the door. There’s also an option to pay it forward and send one to a friend.
Virginia Gift Shop
Looking for a gift for a dad or a grad? Luray’s Virginia Gift Shop is your source for gifts for all occasions including clothing, jewelry, collectibles, decor, and retro candy. Check out the webpage or Facebook for photos of products and order a specific gift for yourself or a friend or answer some questions and have Virginia Gift Shop create a custom gift basket. You can have your gifts shipped or delivered, or you can pick them up curbside.
Shenandoah General Store
Shenandoah General Store, in Shenandoah, offers a treasure trove of home decor, jewelry, locally made bath products, and candles, Virginia peanuts, and Americana. Check out Facebook for product images and call or stop by to pick up your purchases.
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