Best of Cleveland 2016: Gift Crates

Stacie Kavanagh is a bit picky. The owner of The Cleveland Crate Co. strives to put only locally made, organic, non-genetically modified organisms and nitrate-free items in her gift packages. “The whole purpose of me doing this is to bring to the public what they can’t find from small makers,” she says. Kavanagh combs markets for products such as Ms. Julie’s Kitchen spicy cashews, Under Aurora’s coconut oil spray and Full Measure Bitters to make fun themed crates ($55-$135). But the bonus in unwrapping one of these is the actual container: the large crates are from a 100-year-old Ohio apple farm and have been embellished with rope handles and brass hardware. Since launching in 2015, Cleveland Crate Co. has been busy turning over boxes to eager fans, including former Cleveland Browns quarterback Tim Couch’s wife Heather Kozar, and spreading the love for local items she includes. “I don’t think people understand what it takes to make something locally,” Kavanagh says. “There’s an education opportunity.” theclevelandcrateco.com