When it's frigid and icy in West Virginia, the demand for strawberries seems to go up. That's based on my observation waiting in line two different times for two women running strawberry businesses in the Charleston area. From my understanding, they ship strawberries directly from Florida and meet people in random parking lots, as noted on Facebook, and the people come. They line up. And they buy alllll the strawberries.

The Strawberry Lady



Arguably the more popular of the two strawberry vendors, The Strawberry Lady has a box truck full of strawberries that they deliver around to various points in the Metro Valley. The first time I tried to get some in Kanawha City, they actually sold out while I was still in line.



So, when they came back, I was an hour early to make sure I got my fix. You can purchase by the flat ($32) or half flat ($16), and jam is $4 -- which is so smart for those with $20 bills. They are cash or check only. I got a half flat and shared with some friends. One thing I noticed about these ones is that they are not quite as ripe as the other, but they are huge. 


M & C Strawberries



These folks seem to be more consistently set up at the India Center at Southridge. They are more expensive - a half flat here was $20 and a full flat here is $40.



These strawberries were perfectly ripe and beautiful. So, what's the verdict? They're both tasty. I think it depends if you want to go for size or flavor. Either way, they're both lovely fresh in the midst of winter.

It's time for this month's Appalachian Mercantile box!!! What do we have this month? 

Snowville Creamery - cheddar crisps - These delicious crisps are made from pure cheddar cheese. Snowville Creamery, located in eastern OH, grass feeds all of its cattle to produce A2 milk. The crisps are non-GMO, gluten free and yummy!

Shagbark Seed & Mill - Organic Pinto Beans - Shagbark Seed & Mill is a cooperative that supports local organic grain and bean growers in eastern OH. These pinto and black beans are staples for the pantry. Grown in the Americas for more than 8000 years, Black Beans are at the heart of Indigenous Foodways in South America, Cuba, and Central America. They offer loads of protein, fiber, magnesium, and anti-oxidants to every meal. Ohio grown, certified organic, vegan. Pinto beans have been a staple of Appalachian cuisine for many, many year. Cook with a piece of smoked pork, onions and garlic. The rich, meaty flavor of the beans sings through.

Studio B Art Boutique Wine & Beer Gallery is a really cool shop in Fayetteville that has everything from WV products and clothing to beer and wine. There's really a lot here, but, of course, I wanted to focus on the food and drink part. 



First, let's talk Mountain Top Tea, which is produced by Berkeley Springs Brewing Company. These are beers brewed with tea, like Mandarin Orange Rooibos, Green Tea or Earl Grey. So they're like sours but with these tea flavors. If you are a tea fan, this could be a good try! 



Then, I also wanted to collect the beautiful line of cans from Greenbrier Valley Brewing Company. I need the Green Bank Fruited Gose, 35 Pale Ale and would love Bat Boy! If anyone knows where I can get these cans, give me a head's up! 

There's a new shop in Huntington that is home to fresh meat and seafood, gourmet food items and perfect gifts for just about anyone.



The Butcher Shop, located next to Christopher's Eats, is a small space with this really lovely wooden exterior that has carvings of a cow, pig and chicken. 



Inside, you'll find all sorts of goodies. There are charcuterie essentials like cheese knives and markers.



There are also some West Virginia glasses and a wide selection of pasta. 



There is cheese, crackers and make-your-own-cocktail kits.



Condiments like jams and jellies and pickled vegetables are available.



And, there are sweets too - caramels, marshmallows, truffles.



There are two small coolers - one with beef and another with seafood. 



I'm unclear if they butcher in the traditional sense - if they break down cuts of meat or if people can have them do so - it seemed like the items they had were packaged from different companies. 



But the one thing I saw that didn't have another company's label on it was the crab cakes, so I was sure to get a package of those. 



And, I also got some "cheese straws," some caramels, some marshmallows, a candy bar, a giant peanut butter cup, pimento cheese popcorn, truffle crackers and butter toffee peanuts.



If I had to describe this shop to someone, I would say they that they carry a lot of regional speciality foods (not many local ones) that could make up the ultimate charcuterie board. 



So far, everything I've tasted has been so good. After a quick fry, the crab cakes had a lovely golden brown crust and lots of shredded crab. 



The pimento popcorn, which is from Asheville, N.C., was like a cheddar popcorn with a little spice. A nice, fun little twist. 



Have you been here? Let me know what you got in the comments!

During a trip to Fayetteville - when it was a touch warmer - my friend Bri and I stopped at Wild Art & Wonderful Things. 



This lovely shop has some amazing local art and products. I ended up scooping up some West Virginia-themed coasters, and one of which is a puzzle. I am also dying for one of these topographic maps. Just stunning. 



And, to top it off, they also have kombucha. I'm always a little weird about kombucha, I think, because I don't understand it. I lowkey wonder if it's gonna upset my tummy because "bacteria," but I know there is good bacteria!! Someone tell me why I shouldn't worry about this.



But, all of that aside - this was tasty! It was so summery with that little bit of sour and it made me actually enjoy the flavor - which can't always be said. I would drink this just for fun! Have you been here?

One of my favorite new-ish stores in West Virginia is the Blue Ridge Bee Company in Princeton.



"Blue Ridge Bee Company is based in the heart of the Appalachian mountains of West Virginia. When we started hearing of the mass honey bee die-off we became interested in saving this valuable creature. After much studying, we started our honey operation in 2014 and have expanded each year since.



In December 2019, we opened our store on Mercer Street in the Grassroots District. We came to this district with a vision of opening a store that was reminiscent of an old-timey general store, selling local bread, meats, honey, jewelry, soap, and more, while also supplying customers with beekeeping equipment and training. Our main goal is to teach people to keep bees properly, helping them thrive throughout the year and rebuild the bee populations."



This lovely storefront, in addition to selling a wide variety of local honey, has so many local goods. There are old-fashioned candies,  local breads and baked goods an even ice cream.



Of course, I had to try the honey - but specifically the WV Wildflower honey. You may think that all honey tastes the same, but when you try a few, you can notice the floral notes or woody notes or whatever type it may be.



One really cool thing they also have here is a line of canned specialty goods under their brand name. Chow chow, dilly beans, jams, jellies, relish - I love these items because they have that Appalachian twist and are not always something you can find in a grocery store. 



In addition to getting some of the name brand products (which are all delicious!), I went for some other local ones, like this Moonstruck Maple Syrup. Which is SO tasty.



This makes me think... I need to do a whole list on WV honey and maple syrups. 



Have you been here before? 

 
Here's this month's J.Q. Dickinson Appalachian Mercantile Box. 



This month includes coffee, a coffee scoop, bbq sauce, rib rub, lavender mist, and honey.

There are so many talented bakers in our area running home businesses. And, I'm hoping to feature them as time allows. But the first one that came to mind was The Baked Flamingo, which is operated by my friend Emily Watson. 



She creates cookies for all occasions, and she has even held a cookie-decorating class before, which was so fun! But I think one of my favorite parts about The Baked Flamingo is that each creation is special and unique. 



Take a look at these Valentine's Day-themed ones she has coming up! How cute is this "fries before guys" cookie? Plus adorable packaging with crinkle cut paper. 



This cup of sprinkle cookies and icing dunkers -- I dug into it right away. First of all, how dang adorable is this? And then it's like interactive, which is fun. AND, it's SO GOOD. I love seeing those cookies that are beautiful - but this is delicious too!



These animal cracker cookies are cute - I think things like this are so clever! 



And she even has paint-your-own cookies! How perfect would these be for something fun for the kiddos.



And, I've saved the best for last. 



Hot chocolate bombs!! These are so popular right now, and honestly, I'm here for it! There are few things better than hot chocolate, and these are so fun. Now, I cant wait to cozy up with one in a vcup of warm milk and enjoy.