Among the things that everyone should be thankful for is that they enjoy some of the most abundant and safest food supplies in the world.

This holiday season, Gov. Jack Markell and Secretary of Agriculture Ed Kee urge Delawareans to support the state’s agricultural industry by purchasing local foods and other local items whenever possible.

Markell said, “Delaware’s agricultural industry is vital to Delaware’s economy, and more importantly, to our quality of life, as it provides us with a safe, delicious, nutritious bounty to share at our holiday tables and throughout the year.

“Buying local foods and other local items for gifts and personal use not only helps save and create jobs for Delawareans, it also helps us to ‘go green’ by saving the fuel it would take to bring food and other items into Delaware from far-away places and by supporting our land preservation efforts for open space and wildlife habitat.”

Shop Delaware grocery stores, food markets and other markets for:

• Frozen and canned vegetables from The PictSweet Company, Hanover Food Corporation, J. G. Townsends Inc. and Vlasic Pickles, all of which contract with local farmers and provide processing jobs for Delawareans

• Quality poultry from Allen Family Foods Inc., Mountaire Farms, and Perdue Farms that provide jobs for Delawareans who process poultry grown by Delaware/Delmarva poultry growers

• Delaware’s famous scrapples and sausages from Rapa in Bridgeville, Kirby and Holloway in Harrington, and Hughes, and Haass, both of Dover.

Check the Delaware Department of Agriculture’s Food Trader and Ag Trader websites, defoodtrader.org and deagtrader.org frequently for available products as the season progresses:

• Local fresh greens, sweet potatoes, herbs, apples, ciders, pumpkins

• Local fresh turkeys

• Local fresh/frozen meats (beef, pork, lamb, bison, goat and emu)

• Locally produced breads and other baked goods

• Locally produced ice cream and other delectable sweets such as honey, cookies, cakes, pies, candies, etc.

• Locally processed value added products such as sauces, jams, jellies, butters, soaps, candles, gift baskets/bags, etc.

• Holiday items such as poinsettias, trees, wreaths, cemetery mounds/flowers

• Gift certificates for local establishments

• Local wines, beers, ales and other spirits from Nassau Valley Vineyards in Lewes, Pizzadili Winery in Felton, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery in Milton and other local breweries as they list.