It’s harvest season, which means the bounty of Wisconsin’s homegrown goodies is coming in! With the help of Something Special from Wisconsin, we’ve compiled a list of a few locally-made jams, jellies, preserves, salsas and pickled vegetables to stock up on and enjoy all winter long.
Chip Magnet Salsa
Chip Magnet is based in Eau Claire and provides its customers with delicious and high-quality products. Choose from a variety of salsas, including Black Bean, Mango, Garlicious and Cilantro Lime. In the relish category, there’s Top Dog, which is a combination of pickle relish and hot peppers, Corn Star, which features sweet corn, red bell peppers, onion and Serrano pepper, or Hell’s Bells, which is perfect for sub sandwiches, pizza, dips and so much more!
Always & Forever Designz
For delicious, old-fashioned products that taste like they came straight from your grandma’s pantry, check out Always & Forever Designz, based out of Fond du Lac. You’ll find preserves, relishes, jams and butters both classic and unique, such as Blackberry Jalapeno Jam, Peach Rhubarb Bourbon Jam, Corn Relish, Cherry Butter, Bread & Butter Pickles, Apple Butter, Cranberry Salsa, and so much more!
Polzin Farms
While Polzin Farms is well-versed in all things homemade (i.e. popcorn, caramel corn and cheese corn), their bread and butter (pun intended) is jams and preserves. With everything from strawberry, strawberry-rhubarb and strawberry-jalapeno preserves, to raspberry, raspberry-jalapeno pepper and hot jalapeno jam, Polzin Farms has you covered whether you’re more sweet or more savory.
Storandt Farms
This third-generation family farm specializes in making salsa, jams and jellies inspired by local and sustainable ingredients found on the farm. Choose from Peachberry, Apple Raspberry, Plum, Raspberry Jalapeno, and Spicy Pear Jam, or go for a salsa in the “Just A Whisper”, “Bite Your Tongue”, “One Hot Secret”, or “Pants on Fire” varieties.
Flyte Family Farms LLC
The Flyte Family Farm grows organic and conventional crops to create delicious salsas, sauces and jellies. Visit the farm and pick your own strawberries and blueberries for freezing, baking, or making jam, or purchase their Farmers Salsa, Mildly Hot Salsa, or Corn & Black Bean Salsa.
Elsie Mae’s Cannery & Pies
This Kenosha shop uses local produce and family recipes to preserve traditional and old-fashioned canning. Aside from its delicious pies (seriously, go get yourself one), you’ll find more than 120 different flavors of jams throughout the year, varying by season. Flavors include strawberry rhubarb, carrot cake, chocolate cranberry peppermint, dandelion, peach cobbler, gingered Asian pear and orange cranberry.
Door County Wildwood Market
Door County Wildwood Market lives on the Carlson farm just north of Sister Bay. The small operation grows a variety of local fruits and produce, including Pick-Your-Own cherries, strawberries, pumpkins, and tomatoes, if you’re interested in making your own preserves! The market also offers pickled vegetables, fresh jams, salsas, marinara sauces and more!
— Kristen Finstad is a crew member of the nation’s longest-running tourism TV show, “Discover Wisconsin.” The column is published on the Life page in the Times.
