Two West Philly food start-ups are joining forces to spread the love this Valentine’s Day. Red Fox Gourmet and Smackaroons, both operating out of the Culinary Center on S. 48th Street, have just launched “Love Me…I’m Local,” a campaign celebrating the collective of emerging artisan food entrepreneurs in the Philadelphia area. Their first collaboration and product offering is a Valentine’s Day Gift Suite featuring gourmet treats.

Smackaroons produces dairy and preservative free artisanal Coconut Delights and currently has over 60 retail partners in the Greater Philadelphia and Delaware Valley Regions. Red Fox Gourmet is a snack company focused on making wholesome snacks with no artificial ingredients or preservatives. Its owner and head chef, Sarah Merrick, says that she and Claudia Baudo, the owner of Smackaroons, are thrilled to be part of this campaign. 

“It’s an exciting time to be an artisanal food producer in Philadelphia. We’re changing the food culture by bringing unique, handcrafted items to market,” Merrick said in a statement. “The Love Me…I’m Local campaign is helping small businesses like ours to grow by linking us with other producers and giving us a platform to collaborate and learn.”

Baudo says that as an entrepreneur she wears 37 hats. “The opportunity to collaborate with Red Fox Gourmet allowed shared creative perspective from both parties… It has been a true collaboration that offers customers the opportunity to try both products in one beautifully presented package.”

So, let’s see what the package contains. Here’s the description from the creators:

“The Valentine’s Day Gift Suite features Smackaroons’ Coconut Delights Dipped in Dark Chocolate and Red Fox Gourmet’s Cayenne Caramel Popcorn. The pairing is delightfully sweet and irresistibly savory and comes ready to gift in a high-quality box complete with bow and branded tag.”

Sounds pretty good, right? Here’s where you can buy Gift Suites:

• Drexel University and University of Pennsylvania campus stores.

• Several retailers in the Philadelphia and New Jersey area – including: DiBruno Bros Rittenhouse Square, Green Aisle Grocery, Fair Food Farmstand in Reading Terminal Market, and all four McCaffrey’s Markets.

Also, visit Love Me…I’m Local’s Facebook page for information about ordering online. Nationwide shipping is available.

A portion of sales from each Gift Suite sold will be donated to Career Wardrobe, which helps women and men transition into the workforce by providing free and low-cost clothing as well as career strategy support.