M.I.B. – Made in Baltimore, or at least headquartered here

Let’s face it, Baltimore City and the state of Maryland seem to have an incredibly difficult time (well, all of America really) holding onto businesses/companies that make actual things. Manufacturing. From widgets and doohickeys all the way up to coffee and cars, Maryland did at one point have a rich tapestry of manufacturing jobs that sustained a very robust working class – especially in the city. But alas – GM, Solo Cup, Bethlehem Steel, Black and Decker, Pepsi, on and on – a lot of the big names have left the building. No blame in the game, just a statement of fact.

Increasingly, it’s all tech companies and art districts. Software and coworking spaces. Small to micro manufacturing of very, very niche products are on the rise – which is great, but for now most of the major manufacturing jobs are vapor – a 35% decline in the past ten years. Be all of this as it may, there are still some companies left that make and sell products across the United States based in Baltimore, aside from the Under Armours, McCormicks and …uh, Berger Cookies of the world. And so we present Made in Baltimore, a limited (to how long we feel like doing it) series on products that are well, made in Baltimore. (Or at least headquartered here)

Today’s spotlight – Sun of Italy

photo via Facebook

Sun of Italy has been around for over a frigging hundred years, a 5th generation family owned business with a bright yellow label you’ve probably seen a million times and never realized it came from right here in East Baltimore. I spread their hot relish on virtually everything, I’m a big fan of their artichoke hearts on pizza, they pretty much make everything under the sun Italian and you should consider buying their products. You’d be hard pressed to not find their delicious pizza kits (though I’m a Don Pepino man for sauce, sorry guys) on almost every grocery store shelf in the Baltimore area, with the exception of Trader Joe’s and possibly some high end / price point grocery chains. Point being, if you can’t make it to your favorite Italian Deli of choice for their homemade stuff and you happen to be at a Shopper’s Food or Eddie’s and you need some meat sauce, consider buying local and pick up a Sun of Italy product. You’ll be supporting your local economy and enjoying yourself some kickin’ rad spaghetti.

If you’ve got a suggestion for MiB, leave a comment or email it!

7 thoughts on “M.I.B. – Made in Baltimore, or at least headquartered here

  1. Goetze caramels! I eat them by the POUND (and then regret it, and am terribly ill, but do it every few months anyway).

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