I wrote about food-specific gifts you can buy that are from Rhode Island for my weekly food and dining newsletter with the Globe. Here it is: https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/12/12/metro/one-of-a-kind-food-gifts-everyone-your-list/

Here's parts of that article/ newsletter here:

• Finishing salt from local waters beats anything you’re buying in bulk, elevating your dishes and craft cocktails. Hand harvested from Brenton Reef along Ocean Drive, Newport Sea Salt Co. follows a traditional and unhurried process of making small-batched, pure and natural sea salt where nothing is added or taken away.
• No one has time to make everything from scratch at home. But you can say “no” to the big brands you’ve seen in every home kitchen for the last few decades. Grab sauces and other BBQ goodies from the Backyard Food Company in Warwick, seasoning from Ocean State Pepper Co., fresh pasta from Priva Farina in Warren, and hot sauce from Rhed’s inside the Farm Fresh building in Providence. Bonus: Gastro’s Craft Meats usually has sampler sizes and gift baskets.