When many of us think about the holidays, gift-giving is the first thing that comes to mind. That is certainly true of my family. The older I get, however, the holiday bits that I enjoy most are the gift of time spent with the people I love. This year marks twenty-five holiday seasons together for my husband and I.

Thinking back on all the celebrations we’ve shared first as a young couple and then melding traditions as we grew our family, one thing that has absolutely held true is our love for incorporating “local” into our holiday season. From visiting the same family farm year after year to choose-and-cut our Christmas trees to incorporating local ingredients into our menus, engaging with community here in Haywood are some of our richest memories.

I hope you enjoy reading The Holiday Guide 2023. From start to finish, the content is filled with passion, purpose and products that are uniquely local to Haywood County. Check back frequently as we will be updating the guide throughout the season as new leads come in! There’s something intimate and powerful about using consumer demand to drive a supply chain rich with heritage, culture and tradition.

From our table to yours, happy holidays all!

Tina Masciarelli, MLA
Buy Haywood Project Coordinator