Here at Calef’s we pride ourselves in buying and selling local, that has been the foundation of our business for over 150 years. One of our favorite local suppliers is the Squamscot Old Fashioned Beverage Company, founded in Newfields, NH in 1863. It is a staple in our cooler and the best option to quench a late summer thirst.

In keeping with our mantra of buying and selling local, Calef’s has been carrying a broad selection of New England craft beer and cider for the past 10 years. Currently there are over 500 breweries in New England and while we can’t carry them all we have a very good rotating selection in our store.

All of our Cheese is “Snappy Old Cheddar,” a term used by the Calef’s for many generations to describe our delicious cheese! Calef’s has been aging our cheddars in store for many generations. Many people think that we make our Snappy Olde Cheese but we never have.

I am a honey lover. I include it in or on about anything I eat or drink. I have found that different honeys provide a new and interesting flavor component to what I consume. Thought I’d share some lessons I have learned along the way down my path of sweetness.

Several times a year a customer will stop in and tell us of their first job at Calef’s. There are many ways that a country store can give back to the community but providing good local jobs to our younger citizens is among the most important and rewarding.

Calling all cheese lovers~ if you want to preserve your block of favorite cheese full of flavor it’s time to look at specially made cheese bags or cheese paper, depending on your preference.

What makes Calef’s candy room truly unique is that we charge by the piece. There are prices on the jar and/or the candy that say how much it is. Customers often ask “why do you not sell it by the pound!, wouldn’t that be easier?” Yes, it would be easier, but easier is not always better.

In 1955 Richard E. Kimball and Ruth E. Kimball founded R.E. Kimball & Company. They were looking for a high-quality alternative to the mass-produced jams and jellies that were available at the time and thought their family recipes and commitment to fresh natural ingredients would fit the bill.

Did you know that according to the Department of Agriculture the average American eats 8 1/2 pounds of pickles a year? Why last year alone Calef’s Country Store sold almost 12,000 pickles. In fact pickles are so popular that November 14 has been named National Pickle Day.

Behind the Calef’s Country Store, you will find a large community garden that includes 16 – 4’x8’ plots. Seven years ago Calef’s dedicated an open, full sun, plot of land to the community. It was a way to give back to Barrington while promoting fresh, organic produce.