Advantage Valley launches 2026 Taste of Appalachia holiday gift sets
August 25, 2026 – Charleston, WV – Building on a successful inaugural year, Advantage Valley is launching the second year of Taste of Appalachia, a regional economic development initiative supported by the Appalachian Regional Commission and the Claude Worthington Benedum Foundation. The program is designed to help West Virginia food producers reach new customers, increase sales and expand their markets during the holiday season.
This year, the program’s gift sets will be showcasing locally made food products from 17 participating vendors, with 15 vendors from Advantage Valley’s region. Many participating businesses have also received support through Advantage Valley’s FASTER WV initiative, Fostering Advantages for Start-Ups & Entrepreneurial Resurgence in WV, which provides entrepreneurs with one-on-one business coaching, entrepreneurship training, technical assistance and access to capital. Taste of Appalachia builds on that work by helping local producers reach new customers, increase sales and expand their market presence.
“We are excited to see Taste of Appalachia grow in its second year and to welcome even more producers from across the Advantage Valley region,” said Terrell Ellis, President of Advantage Valley. “One of our primary goals is to identify great products being made in communities throughout our region and connect those small businesses with new customers. Through FASTER WV, our team is constantly scouting for promising entrepreneurs, meeting with small businesses and helping them identify the resources they need to grow. Taste of Appalachia gives us another way to take businesses we are already working with and create real opportunities for them to increase sales, build visibility and reach customers they may not have been able to reach on their own.”
In 2025, the inaugural year of the program, Taste of Appalachia was highly successful in achieving its goal of introducing local food producers to new customers and expanding their market reach. The program sold 1,145 gift boxes, featuring more than 8,200 individual products, and generated more than $60,000 in direct revenue for participating small businesses. Beyond the initial holiday sales, several vendors also reported increased exposure, repeat customers and additional orders throughout the year.
A significant part of Taste of Appalachia’s inaugural-year success came from West Virginia businesses that chose the program for their holiday giving to customers and clients. Among the strongest supporters was The Thrasher Group, whose participation created a meaningful impact for several of the small businesses featured in its gift orders.
“The success of our inaugural year would not have been possible without the support of The Thrasher Group,” said Ellis. “Their commitment to incorporating Taste of Appalachia into their corporate holiday giving helped introduce our vendors to new customers, generate significant sales and demonstrate how corporate purchasing decisions can have a direct and lasting impact on our regional economy.”
As a result of The Thrasher Group’s support, several participating vendors saw a significant increase in annual sales while gaining exposure to new customers. In recognition of that impact, Clayton White, CEO of The Thrasher Group, accepted the 2026 Taste of Appalachia Corporate Impact Award at this year’s program launch.
“Sending our clients a Taste of Appalachia gift box last year allowed us to do a couple things that are really important to us. We were able to thank the partners who trust us with their projects and help some of the small businesses shaping this region's identity,” said Clayton White, CEO of The Thrasher Group. "We see a bit of ourselves in the mission behind Taste of Appalachia. Forty-three years ago, Thrasher started the same way many of these entrepreneurs did, with a commitment to this region and the people in it. Supporting that same spirit in others just felt right, and we're honored Advantage Valley chose to recognize that."
The Taste of Appalachia online shopping portal, www.tasteofappalachia.com, will open for sales on September 15th at 8:00 a.m. The 2026 program will feature six curated gift sets showcasing products manufactured throughout the Advantage Valley region, with the exception of the Veteran-Made Gift Set, which features veteran-owned businesses from across West Virginia.
All online orders must be placed by November 23rd to ensure shipment during the first two weeks of December for holiday delivery. Corporate bulk orders of 10 or more boxes can be placed through the order form available on the Taste of Appalachia website and must be submitted by November 10th. Advantage Valley will host the 2026 Taste of Appalachia Showcase on Sunday, October 18, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Capitol Market in Charleston. Vendors featured in this year’s gift sets will offer samples of their products, and Taste of Appalachia gift sets will also be available for purchase during the showcase.
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featuring Meatball Mix by Dark Hollow Foods, Apple Cider Vinaigrette by Legacy Foods, Coal River Coffee, Tipsy Roo’s BUI BBQ Sauce, Tyler Creek Honey and J.Q. Dickinson Heirloom Salt.
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featuring Biscuit Mix and More by Tasty Blend Foods, Ronk Family Maple Syrup, local coffee, Goldilocks Grazing Granola, Apple Butter by Legacy Foods and G&G Heritage Farm Jam.
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featuring Sassy Gal’s Dip Mixes, Baked Potato Popcorn by Angie’s What’s Poppin, We Be Fryin’ Pizza WheatOs, Goldilocks Grazing Dill Pickle Snack Mix, Ronk’s Maple Mustard and Sassy Gal’s Bourbon Roasted Pecans.
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featuring Ronk Maple BBQ Sauce, Tipsy Roo’s New Drunken Johnny’s Whiskey BBQ Sauce, Chef Signature Hot and Spicy BBQ Sauce and J.Q. Dickinson Smoky Mountain Rub Spice Blend.
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featuring J.Q. Dickinson Burnt Caramel Sauce and Heirloom Salt, Sassy Gal’s Bourbon Roasted Pecans, Oreo Popcorn by Angie’s What’s Poppin and We Be Fryin’ Cinna Locos Crunchy Wheat Twists.
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featuring Harvest Trails freeze-dried fruit, Legacy Foods Hot Pepper Jelly, Sugar Bottom Farms Raw Wildflower Honey, and BBQ Sauce.
“Many Taste of Appalachia vendors have also grown through Advantage Valley’s FASTER program,” said Ellis. “Tipsy Roo’s, for example, reported that the program accounted for 50% of its 2025 sales and has since expanded into more than 100 stores statewide. We want to keep supporting that growth, including through our next focus, developing a shared commercial kitchen for regional food entrepreneurs.”
Advantage Valley is preparing to establish The Capitol Kitchen, a shared commercial kitchen and collaborative space that food manufacturers from across the state will be able to rent as they work to scale production and meet growing consumer demand. The AEP Foundation is supporting the project and presented Advantage Valley with a donation of $75,000 to help advance its development.
“Appalachian Power is proud to support initiatives that strengthen the communities we serve,” said Appalachian Power President and COO Brian Abraham. “The Capitol Kitchen will give local entrepreneurs access to the tools, resources and opportunities they need to grow their businesses, create jobs and expand access to locally produced food. This is the kind of community investment that can spark economic opportunity and help build a stronger future for West Virginia.”
Advantage Valley is currently gathering additional funding support for The Capitol Kitchen project. Businesses, organizations and individuals interested in supporting the project can contact Advantage Valley at (304) 352-1165. For more information on Taste of Appalachia or to sponsor the 2026 Taste of Appalachia Showcase, visit www.tasteofappalachia.com