Citrus County Florida

First let me apologize for not having a fresh spotlight for your reading pleasure last week, which was due to my taking my significant to the other coast in celebration of his birthday. For those of you new to this feature on Citrus Directory, this is a column to bring notice to different locally owned and operated businesses and places of interest in Citrus County. If you have any ideas for items you wish to see here, please send me an email.

I know some of you still need some last minute holiday gifts and the place you want to visit is, “A Taste of Country”. We would like to welcome the new kids on the block, Jerry and Mary Taylor who just opened their store on December 1st. They both originate from Indiana; Jerry graduated from CRHS and has been back with Mary for the past 8 yrs. It is nice to see another family owned and operated business make Crystal River their home. I knew I had to go and pay them a visit when I was informed that they had all kinds of Amish products which are about the only things I miss about living up north. We used to take day trips to Lancaster County PA in search of the delicious food the Amish are noted for, and we were never disappointed in our quest. “A Taste of Country” is tucked away between the bingo hall and Laundromat at 51 N.W. Hwy 19 Crystal River, just south of Crystal River City Hall. When we first arrived my heart fluttered a bit when I saw the table outside their shop that had a few jars of the jams and jellies I so fondly remembered, like apple butter, pumpkin butter and even chokecherry jam! All natural and not loaded with high fructose corn syrup!^[1]

Jerry did explain though, that while they do carry Ohio Amish products of jams, jellies, popcorn and noodles it only comprised about 80% of their inventory. They also carry Huckleberry Products, Forge Mountain, Honeyville products, and Wisconsin meats and cheeses, the list goes on! The Wisconsin meats they plan on carrying not just for the holidays, but as a year round product. I learned quite a bit from him as to where the products came from, and some history on certain items. I never realized how many forms of popping corn there are and they carry them all – including popping corn on the cob which you place in a brown paper bag and microwave! They stock not only the pop corn, but all the oils and toppings one could ever need for them!

They do make gift baskets, and also ship all over the country which is a nice thing to know, especially since most people always need a gift for someone out of the area at some point throughout the year.

Besides the food, they also carry handmade crafts many which adorn the back wall. There were wreaths made by Mary’s sister back in Indiana. She goes and cuts the grape vines herself and makes some very lovely looking wreaths; you can’t get anymore homemade than that, now can you?

So while you are out doing your last minute shopping up at the mall, pop in and see Jerry and Mary, their store hours are Monday through Saturday from 9AM until 7PM, and Sunday from 9AM until 5 PM. They will be closed Christmas day though. For more information, their phone number is 352-563-0218.

Wishing you all a wonderful holiday,

Laurie

You can visit A Taste of Country on the web at http://www.atasteofcountry.org/