Mail order meats, cheeses and candies are popular Christmas gifts.
Mail order food gifts have been holiday staples since the 1896 Sears catalog began offering groceries, according to Robin Cherry, author of "Catalog: An Illustrated History of Mail Order Shopping." Harry and David Holmes were the first merchants to market their products specifically for the holidays, beginning with the "Fruit of the Month" Club in 1938 and the "Tower of Treats" in 1947.
Meats
Mail order meat gift possibilities include everything from game meats such as bison, elk, antelope, venison and wild boar to country hams, slab bacon, hot- and cold-smoked salmon, sturgeon, trout, halibut and shellfish, salmon jerky, canned salmon and other seafood. Mail order meats are usually canned, smoked, freeze-dried or vacuum-sealed to preserve freshness.
It is illegal to mail canned meats, sausage or red meat from Europe to the United States, according to the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection and the Headquarters of the United States Army in Europe. (See References 2) Do not send pork or pork by-products of any kind to soldiers serving in the Operation Iraqi Freedom or Enduring Freedom theaters. (See References 3)
Sweets
Candies have depended heavily on their packaging to make them transportable, according to Laura Mason, author of "Sugarplums and Sherbet--The Prehistory of Sweets. This affects the amount of candy you get for your price, due to filler and wrappers, as well as the amount you pay for shipping, due to the additional weight of the packaging.
Chocolate and other heat-sensitive candies should not be mailed to soldiers serving in the Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom theaters, where temperatures reach 100 to 120 degrees F or higher. ( See References 5) Pad cookies well to avoid breakage due to shaking, and send other pastries and cakes without icing.
Cheese and Dairy
Swiss Colony began offering cheese by mail in 1926, according to Robin Cherry. Hickory Farms followed in 1959. Other companies that provide mail-order cheese include the Adirondack Cheese Company of New Hartford, New York, BuyCheeseOnline of Broadhead, Wisconsin, and Buckeye Grove Farm of Beallsville, Ohio.
Most hard cheeses will travel well, but soft cheeses such as Neufchatel, feta and ricotta may not arrive in good condition if sent to areas with temperatures above 100 degrees F. Soft cheeses should be eaten within a few days of purchase because they spoil easily, according to Cook's Thesaurus website owner, Lori Alden. (See References 6)
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