New England Made Food Gifts: Cheese, Salami, and Chocolate
This guide collects food gifts made in New England by three makers we can place on a map: Smith's Country Cheese, a farmstead creamery in Winchendon, Massachusetts; Vermont Salumi, a small-batch cured-meat maker in Barre, Vermont; and Goodnow Farms Chocolate, a bean-to-bar maker in Sudbury, Massachusetts. Every item below is produced by one of those three, all in stock at Madeline's right now. It is built for anyone shopping for a regional gift, a care package home, or a New England food lover. Each pick links straight to its product page.
We have limited this list to makers whose New England location is confirmable, so you can give it with the origin claim intact.
The picks
Smoked Farmstead Gouda from Smith's Country Cheese (Winchendon, Massachusetts)
A farmstead gouda smoked for a mellow, woodsy flavor, made from milk on Smith's working dairy farm in north-central Massachusetts. A good introduction to the creamery's gouda line.
Extra Sharp Cheddar from Smith's Country Cheese (Winchendon, Massachusetts)
An aged cheddar with a bold, tangy bite. It anchors a New England cheese board and grates well into baked dishes.
Smoked Cheddar from Smith's Country Cheese (Winchendon, Massachusetts)
A cheddar with a smoky edge that pairs with cured meats and apples. A natural partner to the smoked gouda on a gift board.
Unsalted Cultured Butter from Smith's Country Cheese (Winchendon, Massachusetts)
A cultured, unsalted butter from the same farm, with the tang that culturing brings. A thoughtful gift for a baker or home cook.
Fennel Salami from Vermont Salumi (Barre, Vermont)
A whole fennel salami made in small batches in Barre, Vermont, from locally sourced pork. Slice it for a board or a sandwich.
Red Wine and Garlic Salami (8 Pack) from Vermont Salumi (Barre, Vermont)
A red wine and garlic salami with a savory, aromatic flavor. The multi-pack makes it easy to share or gift.
Taste of Vermont Salumi from Vermont Salumi (Barre, Vermont)
A charcuterie set made with pasture-raised Vermont pork, assembled as a ready gift. A simple way to send a taste of Vermont in one box.
Classic Milk, 55% from Goodnow Farms Chocolate (Sudbury, Massachusetts)
A 55 percent milk chocolate bar made bean-to-bar at Goodnow Farms' 225-year-old farm in Sudbury, Massachusetts. A crowd-friendly bar for gifting.
Oat Milk, 61% from Goodnow Farms Chocolate (Sudbury, Massachusetts)
A 61 percent oat milk chocolate bar, a dairy-free option from the same Massachusetts maker. A good pick for a gift recipient who avoids dairy.
Asochivite from Goodnow Farms Chocolate (Sudbury, Massachusetts)
A single-origin dark chocolate bar made from Guatemalan cacao, crafted in Sudbury. A bar for a chocolate lover who wants to taste origin character.
House Blend Hot Cocoa from Goodnow Farms Chocolate (Sudbury, Massachusetts)
A house-blend hot cocoa from the same maker, easy to pair with a bar for a small chocolate gift set.
How to choose
For a single New England gift, pick one cheese, one salami, and one chocolate bar to span all three makers. For a cheese-focused gift, pair the smoked gouda and smoked cheddar with the cultured butter. For a charcuterie gift, the Taste of Vermont Salumi set is the most complete in one box. The chocolate bars and hot cocoa travel best in warm weather and make the easiest standalone gifts.
Frequently asked questions
What does "made in New England" mean for these products?
Every product on this list is produced by a maker based in New England: Smith's Country Cheese in Massachusetts, Vermont Salumi in Vermont, and Goodnow Farms Chocolate in Massachusetts. We limited the list to makers whose location can be confirmed.
Where exactly is each maker located?
Smith's Country Cheese is in Winchendon, Massachusetts. Vermont Salumi is in Barre, Vermont. Goodnow Farms Chocolate is in Sudbury, Massachusetts.
Is the chocolate really made in New England if the cacao is imported?
Yes, the chocolate is made in Sudbury, Massachusetts. Goodnow Farms is a bean-to-bar maker, meaning they perform the chocolate making in-house. The cacao beans are sourced from farms in Central America and Mexico, but the bars are produced at their Massachusetts farm.
Which of these make good gifts to ship?
The chocolate bars and hot cocoa are the simplest to ship and store. The cheeses, butter, and salami make excellent gifts as well, but they are perishable and should be kept cool, so plan shipping with that in mind.
Are any of these temperature-sensitive?
The cheeses and cultured butter need refrigeration, and Vermont Salumi's fresh items can have shipping limits, so check each product page. The shelf-stable chocolate and cocoa are the easiest to send any time of year.
Keep browsing
For more, see our Cheese, Cured Meat, and Chocolate collections. You may also like our guides to the best artisan sampler sets for food gifting and the best small-batch chocolate makers to know.