Shop Local! South Florida Markets and Merch

Your weekend farmers market is a great source for thoughtful, locally made gifts: foods, honey, candles, soaps, personal care items, plants and much more. Here are other places where you can find quality products.

Aventura Farmers Market  

WHAT: Every weekend, Florida’s largest mall hosts an indoor market with local food artisans, prepared foods, produce and juices, desserts and more.  
GOOD CHOICES: Best from Italy’s olive oils and vinegars; Gerbaud Bakery’s European specialties like traditional beigli, Hungarian walnut and poppy seed rolls; and fresh fruits and juices. Stocking stuffer: Hyperrealistic fruit tarts from Candy Soap Miami – it’s soap!
WHERE: 19501 Biscayne Blvd.
MORE INFO: Aventura Farmers Market

Burger Beast's Cruz Diablo T-Shirt

WHAT: Burger Beast Sef Gonzalez is a treasure trove of local pop culture and esoteric knowledge. One of his recent obsessions is Cruz Diablo, known for his lucha libre stints in Cuba and Venezuela during the 1950s. In early 1959, he wrestled in a series of matches unmasked at Coliseo de la Ciudad Deportiva & Havana Madrid in Cuba until the Cuban revolution ended his professional wrestling career. In the 1980s, when Sef fell in love with professional wrestling, his father told him the stories of his grandfather, Cruz Diablo, who died before Sef was born. Today, Cruz Diablo is now Burger Beast's hamburger that appears at regular pop-ups ... and it's also a series of t-shirts. We love the one designed by local artist Brian Reedy.
GOOD CHOICES: You can also find retro Burger Beast t-shirts on his website.
WHERE: Order online
MORE INFO: Cruz Diablo T-Shirt

Cindy Lou’s Cookies, Miami

WHAT: Walk into this tiny cookie shop and the fragrance is exactly what it should be: buttery, sweet, chocolately – the perfume of the baker. What smells so good? Big, delicious cookies, from classic chocolate chips, loaded peanut butter, seven-layer bars in cookie form, oatmeal raisin, shortbread, cinnamon toast crunch plus specials like lemon cloud, salted chocolate truffle, caramelitas, to name just a few.
WHERE: 7320 NE 2 Ave.
MORE INFO: Cindy Lou's Cookies

Fausto's Food Palace, Key West

WHAT: Longtime grocer carries lots of Keys foods (meats, seafood and produce), plus coffee, hot sauce, seasonings, pickles and more.
GOOD CHOICES: The Pickle Baron's pickles make a great local gift – and buy one for yourself, too.
WHERE: 522 Fleming Street and 1105 White Street
MORE INFO: Fausto's Food Palace

Gaucho Ranch – Grill Boutique, Little River

WHAT: 100 percent grass-fed meat and much more: beef, heritage pork, poultry, wild-caught seafood, game meats and more, plus an array of grilling supplies for your own asado. They also cater. You won’t find friendlier or more knowledgeable staff.
GOOD CHOICE: A four-pack of strip steaks ($66) or Wagyu strip steaks (16 oz, $43.33).
WHERE: 7201 NE 4 Ave., Loft 101, Miami
MORE INFO: Gaucho Ranch

Isabel, Fine Home Accessories, South Miami

WHAT: Leave it to Isabel’s good taste and sly sense of humor to come up with a collection of exquisite, whimsical and elegantly practical gifts for every budget. From cookbooks to artwork by local artists, jewelry and housewares.
GOOD CHOICE: Any of these serving dishes and utensils, always thoughtful gifts.
WHERE: 7334 SW 57th Ave, South Miami
MORE INFO: Shop Isabel

Islamorada Chamber of Commerce/Visitor Center

WHAT: Sure, visitors centers are filled with information – and sometimes they're great sources for local goods.
GOOD CHOICE: Inside this picturesque building in Islamorada, you'll find topical books, ornaments and a great collection of hot sauces, just to name a few. One-stop shopping!
WHERE: 87100 Overseas Highway, MM87 (Founders Park)
MORE INFO: Islamorada Chamber of Commerce

Mary Jane’s Closet, Cudjoe Key

WHAT: If you're going to stop at one gift shop in the Keys, make it this one. You'll find lots of truly local and original Florida Keys-flavored merchandise here, including t-shirts, souvenirs, island home decor, art, ceramics, books and one-of-a-kind gifts.
GOOD CHOICE: Get breakfast or lunch while you’re shopping at the adjacent My Morning Joint.
WHERE: 22864 Overseas Hwy., MM24, Cudjoe Key
MORE INFO: Mary Jane's Closet

Miami Beach Botanical Garden Gift Boutique

WHAT: Thoughtful gifts for your favorite aspiring or experienced gardener, plus specialty items from local artisans, garden seeds, jewelry, gardening tools, gloves and their own Garden compost soil, signature garden merchandise including t-shirts, baseball caps, totes, bandanas and reusable water bottles.
GOOD CHOICE: There really is something for everyone here, with an especially good selection of gifts for kids, including creative kits and books.
WHERE: 2000 Convention Center Dr. Tues.-Sun. 9-5
MORE INFO: Miami Beach Botanical Garden

Milam’s Markets – South Florida

WHAT: This family-owned grocery chain carries so many local artisans, you can make your own all-local gift basket.
GOOD CHOICE: Susi Licious Cookies, Cao Chocolates, Keez Beez honey, Gringuita cookie dough, Jammy Yummy, Grate Madeleine, Almotti, Health Gate Gourmet, Edda's Cake Designs, Glaser Organic Farms are among local vendors.
WHERE: Coconut Grove, Pinecrest, Redbird, Miami Springs, Sunny Isles Beach, Link at Douglas
MORE INFO: Milam’s Markets

Pebble & Vine Plant Co., Miami Shores

WHAT: Beautiful plants and pots – plus a mini version of Mima Markey, the beloved hyperlocal Miami Shores boutique.
GOOD CHOICES: In addition to houseplants and orchids, look for honey, postcards and paletas.
WHERE: 9703 NE 2 Ave., Miami Shores
MORE INFO: Pebble & Vine

Historical Recipes By Mail Subscription

WHAT: This isn't local, but we were so tickled by this idea because it combines history and food. This subscription will send your recipient detailed replicas of handwritten recipes from some of the best-known figures in history, like George Washington, Emily Dickinson and Rosa Parks. Choose a six-month ($40) or 12-month ($76) gift subscription. Each month, recipients will receive a historical document replicated on high-quality paper with painstaking accuracy and attention to detail. Each vegetarian recipe comes with context pages that share the writer’s history and the story behind the recipe.
MORE INFO: Historical Recipes Subscription

Robert Is Here

WHAT: South Florida’s favorite family fruit stand is always a fun visit. Fortify yourself with tropical fruit shakes and sandwiches, take a break to check out the farm animals out back and new paitings throughout the property, and listen to Robert talk about whatever tropical fruits are in season.
GOOD CHOICE: Ship seasonal fruits to out-of-town friends. Stock up too on their extensive collection of local honey, key lime condiments, myriad hot sauces and preserves.
WHERE: 19200 SW 344 St., Florida City
MORE INFO: Robert Is Here

West of Chester Art

WHAT: Illustrator Melissa Gutierrez calls herself a memory chaser. Her minimalist prints of places beloved by locals – Churchill’s, Arbetter’s, La Vaquita,  Frankie’s Pizza, to name a few – capture places that are long gone or still around. Her illustrations accompanied Burger Beast Sef Gonzalez’ Bird Road Forever feature in our summer 2023 issue.
GOOD CHOICE: Mini prints ($15) or larger prints ($25). Her “En La Lucha” t-shirt showing two viejitos is also super Miami.
WHERE: Online
MORE INFO: West of Chester

Eat Local! Artisan Food and Drink

Azul Wine and Spirits, Sunset Harbour

WHAT: For nearly a decade, this compact liquor store has been providing locals and professionals with spirits and wines.
GOOD CHOICE: Amid their vast selection of wine and spirits, bitters, liqueurs and bar supplies is an impressive collection of mezcal and tequila.
WHERE: 1414 20 St., Miami Beach
MORE INFO: Azul Wine and Spirits

Board Oh!

WHAT: There are charcuterie boards, and then there are Board Oh! boards, elaborate and color-coordinated edible works of art.
GOOD CHOICE: For parties, look for fruit and cheese boards. Where creator Melissa Wilson really sparkles is her candy and sweets boards, perfect for parties or special gifts.
WHERE: Order online
MORE INFO: boardoh@gmail.com

Cao Chocolates

WHAT: Handcrafted chocolates from Miami’s bean-to-bar chocolatier Ricardo “Cao” Trillos.
GOOD CHOICES: A three-month chocolate subscription ($135, plus one month free if you score the promotion). Recipients will get bonbons and truffle; chocolate bars made with new cacao farms, and a chocolate surprise. 
WHERE: Order online
MORE INFO: Cao Chocolates

Chinola Passionfruit Liqueur

WHAT: Passionfruit, the tart, aromatic fruit sometimes known as parchita or maracuya, is called chinola in the Dominican Republic, where they make a handcrafted liqueur by the same name. Chinola, made with real passionfruit and distilled spirits, is a tropical treat that shows up on cocktail menus in local bars and restaurants, and makes a welcome addition to any home bar.
WHERE: Find at local liquor stores, including Crown Wine & Spirits and Total Wine & More.
MORE INFO: Chinola

Coquito at Shoma Bazaar, Doral

WHAT: Pick up this coconutty, boozy holiday favorite made with rum, cream of coconut, sweetened condensed milk, coconut milk, vanilla and cinnamon at Shoma Bazaar ($49.99/bottle). While you’re there, try a special Coquito Cocktail at the bar.
WHEN: Available now through Dec. 31
WHERE: 9420 NW 41st St, Doral
MORE INFO: To order, email Shoma Bazaar

The Havana Club Crema de Vie Chocolate Bar

WHAT: What a delicious marriage of flavors: Bacardo’s The Real Havana Club Rum in crema de vie and Little Havana’s Exquisito Chocolates come together in a chocolate bar that’s designed for those 21+. The limited-edition confection combines the Cuban version of eggnog with Exquisito’s bean-to-bar chocolate.
WHEN: Available Dec. 4 while supplies last at Exquisito Chocolates or online.
WHERE: 2606 SW 8th Street
MORE INFO: Exquisito Chocolates

Key West First Legal Rum Distillery

WHAT: We are big fans of Renaissance man Paul Menta – chef, kiteboarder, distiller, local seafood advocate, Keys ambassador (and we’re sure there’s more). His distillery is filled with eclectic gifts (aside from his locally distilled rums) – candles, soaps and salt scrub, rum cake, sauces,  you name it. Or treat a fe=riend to a mojito-making class.    
WHERE: 105 Simonton St., Key West
MORE INFO: Key West First Legal Rum Distillery

Knaus Berry Farm

WHAT: Knaus Berry Farms ships their seasonal favorite cinnamon rolls via Goldbelly for $79.95 for two dozen, with free shipping. Or stand in line to buy them (insider tip: go there early on a weekday) and pick up fresh produce, strawberry jelly and a guava pie while you’re there. U-pick strawberry season usually starts in January. Cinnamon rolls are $16/dozen.
WHERE: 15980 SW 248 St., Homestead
MORE INFO: Knaus Berry Farm

Munyon’s Paw-Paw Premium Florida Liqueur

WHAT: A modern perspective on a vintage brand, this low-proof (20% ABV) liqueur was first created in Palm Beach County in 1902 by James Munyon as part of his line of tonics and homeopathic remedies. The company was dissolved in 1925. In 2022, two South Floridians decided to reintroduce Paw-Paw, made with papaya, oranges, grapefuit and hibiscus, as an aperitif.
GOOD CHOICE: Make a Palm Beach Spritz for entertaining: 2 parts Munyoon’s Paw-Paw, 2 parts Prosecco, 2 oz. premium grapefruit sode, served in a balloon glass filled with ice and garnished the a slice of orange.
WHERE: Online; Total Wine & More, ABC Fine Wine & Spirits, Tri County Discount Liquors in Margate
MORE INFO: Munyon’s Paw-Paw

Pamela Wasabi’s Cakes

WHAT: Natural vegan and gluten-free cakes, cookies, desserts and treats, including seasonal specialties like pumpkin pie, apple cobbler, praline cheesecake and pumpkin spice cake.
GOOD CHOICES: Special holiday gift boxes include Choco-donut ($22) and Galazy Bonbon, Filled Chocolate (from $38). For your holiday table, order a Pumpkin Spice Cake ($100) or vegan Tiramisu ($90).
WHERE: Order online, or visit their shop at 1602 NW 20 St.
MORE INFO: Pamela Wasabi Bakery

Pampanguena Food, Cutler Bay

WHAT: This friendly market and cafe stocks a wide range of Filipino foods – baked goods, snacks, condiments, noodles, frozen foods – and does a brisk takeout business.
GOOD CHOICES: Anything ube, the vivid purple yam that goes into halo-halo, pastries, ice cream and more.
WHERE: 18623 SW 107th Ave, Miami
MORE INFO: Pampanguena

Ponche Crema Misia Tata

WHAT: Venezuela’s version of eggnog is sold by the bottle at farmers markets.
WHERE: Find at Miami Lakes Farmers Market (Saturday), Coconut Grove (Sunday), City Place Doral (Sunday) or call and order.
MORE INFO: 786-395-7685

Wolfe’s Wine Shoppe, Coral Gables

WHAT: Proprietor Jeffrey Wolfe knows all about wine and food pairings. Tell him your budget and he’ll select exactly the right choice for your recipients.
GOOD CHOICE: While your wine gifts are being wrapped up, pick up some of Jeffrey's quick pickles.
WHERE: 124 Miracle Mile
MORE INFO: Wolfe’s Wine Shoppe

Grow! Gardens and Plants

Lion Fruit Farms Compost

WHAT: Vermicompost – organic waste materials transformed into nutrient-rich compost – nourishes the soil and enhances plant growth. Lion Fruit Farms uses earthworms, fish and rabbit poop to create products that build fertility in South Florida’s poor soil.
lionfruitfarms.com
GOOD CHOICE: Edgar’s the Earthworm Organic Worm Castings may be used in certified organic production or food processing and handling according to the USDA National Organic Program regulations
MORE INFO: Lion Fruit Farms

Little River Cooperative, Redland

WHAT: Buy veggie starts, herbs, cut flowers, garden tools, soil and more.
GOOD CHOICE: A splurge for someone with a sunny yard: a modular metal raised bed by Vego Garden ($250).
WHERE: Shop at the nursery on weekends at 22305 SW 157 Ave. or order online for pickup or delivery.
MORE INFO: Little River Cooperative

Orchidscape, South Florida

WHAT: Orchid experts Sanna and her team will source customized orchids, such as Encyclia, Oncidium, Brassia, Vattleya, Schomburghia, Grammatophylums and select hybrids, design and install them in trees and palms for optimal viewing. They can maintain them regularly, too.
GOOD CHOICE: Blooming orchid arrangements are available delivered. You can also give gift certificates.
WHERE: They cover South Florida.
MORE INFO: Orchidscapes

Ready-to-Grow, Kendall

WHAT: Grow organic vegetables, herbs and fruit in your backyard or condo with the expert help of Dylan Terry and his team.
GOOD CHOICE: A fruit tree makes a great gift and Ready-to-Grow has one of the best selections of rare and popular trees, including multiple varieties of avocado, banana, mango, sapodilla, loquat and carambola.
WHERE: Visit their nursery on Saturdays (sometimes only open by appointment; call first) at 4590 SW 122 Ave.
MORE INFO: Ready-to-Grow

Tree Amigos Growers, Davie

WHAT: Lots of veggie starts including a variety of tomatoes, herbs, eggplant; fruit trees; flowers; and medicinal plants. They also specialize in building soil and offer soil, fertilizer, cover crops, gardening tools, raised=bed systems and advice.
GOOD CHOICE: The Bokashi Organiko kitchen compost bin ($119), which fits easily under the counyer, turns organic waste into nutrient-rich compost in less than half the time of traditional compost bins.
WHERE: 10900 SW 48 St.
MORE INFO: Tree Amigos Growers

Urban Oasis Project, Miami

WHAT: In the spirit of giving, sponsor a home garden for someone who needs access to fresh healthy food.
GOOD CHOICE: For $300, you can donate to Urban Oasis Project’s G.I.V.E. Gardens, where volunteers build raised-bed gardens for those in need. You can also donate for other programs that make fresh, local food available, including their Fresh Access Bucks SNAP Doubling program and community food box programs.
WHERE: Donate online
MORE INFO: Urban Oasis Project

Read! Books and Periodicals

Banned Books USA

WHAT: Send books that have been banned and/or challenged in Florida to someone in the state for free – just pay the cost of shipping ($3.99(. These banned books include Notes from a Young Black Chef by Kwame Onwuachi, The Hill We Climb by Amanda Gorman, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Beloved by Toni Morrison and Dreaming in Cuban by Cristina Garcia. $1 goes to @FLFreedomRead.
MORE INFO: Banned Books USA

Books & Books

WHAT: Shop first at local independent bookstore, where you can enjoy coffee and browse at your leisure.
GOOD CHOICES: Food books we love this season include The Cookie Bible by Rose Levy Beranbaum; 
WHERE: 265 Aragon Ave., Coral Gables; 533 Eaton St., Key West; 11297 S Dixie Hwy., Pinecrest; 3409 Main Highway, Coconut Grove; Bal Harbour Shops at 9700 Collins Ave., Miami International Airport.
MORE INFO: Books and Books

Edible Communities Subscriptions

WHAT: Did you know there are 80+ Edibles in the U.S. and Canada, each telling the story of their communities?
GOOD CHOICE: We’re partial to edible South Florida, of course ($28/year), ideal for friends and family who have moved away so they can keep up with the scene. But we’re not the only title in the Sunshine State – there’s Edible Sarasota, Orlando, Tampa Bay and Northeast Florida, along with great titles in the U.S. and Canada.
MORE INFO: Edible South Florida subscription

Give! Nonprofits and Organizations

Your donations support causes that enrich our community. Below are some food and food justice causes making a difference in South Florida.

Black Girls Cook

Established in 2014, Black Girls Cook is a nonprofit organization with a mission to teach adolescent girls of color self-actualization activities and life skills through the use of culinary arts and edible gardening with an emphasis on Black foodways.

Buddy System MIA

Buddy System is fighting food insecurity by creating unique and innovative ways to support the community, beginning with access to free, healthy food.

Coconut Grove Crisis Food Pantry

They organize and distribute groceries to approximately 175+ households every week, relying on the generosity of private individuals as well as educational, civic and religious organizations for food donations and financial support.

Common Threads

This national nonprofit provides children and families cooking and nutrition education to encourage healthy habits that contribute to wellness, equipping under-resourced communities with information to make affordable, nutritious and appealing food choices wherever they live, work, learn, and play.

EatWell Exchange

Working with diverse communities to promote wellness with a focus on their culture, they show communities how to still have their cultural foods and live a healthy lifestyle.

ECHO

ECHO introduces sustainable plants, techniques, and technologies to farmers around the world who are struggling to feed their families. They go out into the world to provide training and resources that empower small-scale farming families to thrive.

Feeding South Florida

Their mission is to end hunger in South Florida by providing immediate access to nutritious food, leading hunger and poverty advocacy efforts and transforming lives through innovative programs and education.

Food Rescue US – Miami

Committed to reducing food waste and hunger in the community, they help the environment by keeping food from decomposing in landfills. Using technology, they engage volunteers to transfer unused surplus food from local businesses to local social service agencies providing for the food insecure.

Good Samaritan Meals

Their mission is to help feed the underserved, vulnerable, and homeless populations through partnerships with local Miami restaurants, grocery stores and bakeries.

Health in the Hood

By providing access to fresh foods and health education in low-income neighborhoods, Health in the Hood puts children on the path to healthy futures, giving parents useful information, and creating environments that encourage healthy choices.

Homestead Soup Kitchen

Their mission is to serve those members of the greater Homestead/Florida City community in need of a hot meal, regardless of circumstances, by having a "no questions asked" policy.

Paradise Farms Foundation

This nonprofit is dedicated to broadening access to holistic methodologies through educational opportunities in agriculture, aspiring growers, chefs, culinary arts, and cultivating local community engagement. We give back by creating opportunities to educate our community on regenerative practices and cultivating local community engagement. 

Slow Food Miami

This grassroots, all-volunteer board organization brings the healthful benefits of real food to children and families by building and sustaining raised-bed, organic school and community gardens across Miami-Dade County.

Urban Oasis Project

They make healthy, fresh, local food accessible to all using a multi-faceted approach forging relationships to connect diverse issues and communities, operating farmers markets, an online virtual farmers market, and distributing literal tons of produce from local farms to consumers. Most activities incorporate business practices to create economically self-sustaining programs that serve a wide demographic of incomes.

World Central Kitchen

From serving meals in Acapulco in the aftermath of Hurricane Otis to feeding people in Ukraine and Gaza, WCK is first to the frontlines, providing meals in response to humanitarian, climate, and community crises. They partner with organizations on the ground and activate a network of local restaurants, food trucks or emergency kitchens, serving comforting meals to survivors of disasters quickly and effectively. We are inspired daily by founder José Andrés and his team's work across the globe