“That’s A Wrap: Curated gift boxes put North Central Washington makers center stage”
By ANDREW SIMPSON
Ward Media Staff Reporter
NORTH CENTRAL WASHINGTON — For many people, finding the perfect gift can be a scramble. For Julie Foss, it’s a calling and a way to spotlight the region she calls home.
A former flower farmer in Leavenworth, Foss turned her love for beauty, connection, and local craftsmanship into That’s A Wrap, a curated gifting business rooted in North Central Washington. Her mission is simple but ambitious: To make meaningful gifting easy while elevating the artisans, farmers, and small producers whose work shapes the region’s identity.
“I knew our region needed better gifting options that showcased the premium products already at our fingertips,” Foss said. “After meeting so many talented local artisans, I wanted to continue that connection, celebrating their work and helping others give gifts that feel personal, meaningful, and rooted here.”
Each collection Foss designs, whether for business appreciation, holidays, weddings, or everyday milestones, is built like a recipe. The ingredients come from Chelan, Leavenworth, Wenatchee, Cashmere, Twisp and beyond, all hand-selected to reflect both craftsmanship and place.
Those makers range from food producers to winemakers to small-batch crafters like Ruthie Erwert, known at Pybus Public Market as the “Soap Lady” with KR Farms, or Kellie Allen of Black Rock Farmstead in Chelan, who creates soaps, candles, and other handmade goods. Foss also works with Sarah and Tyler Armour of Armour Winery in East Wenatchee’s Trades District, and with Sarah Michels of Infuse Organics in Leavenworth.
“I take the time to personally connect with each maker, sampling their products, hearing their stories, and understanding their craft,” Foss said. “My goal is to feature those who are passionate about what they create and to help their products reach new customers, keeping both the heart and the dollars close to home.”
That philosophy resonates with the makers themselves. Many see curated regional gifting as a way to share the valley’s story with people near and far.
A winery with deep roots
At Fielding Hills Winery in Chelan, the connection to place goes back generations. “As the fourth generation of a farming family, that heritage is central to what we do,” said Megan Mitchell, whose great-grandfather, Isham Fielding Wade, is the winery’s namesake. “He set the standard with a strong work ethic and a commitment to doing right by the community.”
Those values guide the winery today: Patience, stewardship, and letting the fruit speak for itself.
“We don’t overcomplicate things. We work with and grow the best fruit possible and then create a pathway for it to shine,” Mitchell said.
For Mitchell, the distinctive character of the Lake Chelan American Viticultural Area (AVA) isn’t just something that shows up in the glass. It’s something visitors feel.
“Lake Chelan is a place for people to unwind, slow down, and connect with nature,” she said. “The ability to point out of our tasting room windows and say, ‘The wine you are enjoying grew right there,’ brings people closer to the source.”
When a bottle of Fielding Hills ends up in a gift box headed out of the area, Mitchell sees it as an invitation. It offers people a reminder of their own visit or a first glimpse into what makes the region special.
“Anytime we can shine a light on North Central Washington, it is a good thing for the whole community,” she said.
Nuts from Cashmere, rooted in community
Just downvalley in Cashmere, Almond Blossom carries its own story of regional craft and reinvention. The Watkins family took over the brand in 2019 after acquiring it from its original founders and moved production to Cashmere. The shift allowed them to expand from a tiny shared kitchen into a community-centered business.
“We love living in the small town of Cashmere,” said Tess Watkins. “When you feel welcome into a community, you want to make that community proud. You want to employ residents and add value to their lives by being part of that community.”
The company’s flavored nut mixes are sourced with a focus on value and quality, a simple and practical approach grounded in agricultural life. For Watkins, having Almond Blossom products included in regional gift boxes is both meaningful and useful. It’s a way for small-batch craft to travel far beyond the Wenatchee Valley.
“I hope people feel they are getting a flavorful, quality, hand-made product,” she said. “We’re proud to be showcased within these boxes. When people discover our products, it helps us grow organically.”
A region defined by makers
From estate-grown wine to flavored nuts, Foss says what unites the region’s small producers is not just craft but character. It’s the ethic shared by makers across Chelan and the Wenatchee Valley, an ethic that drew her to build a gifting business around them. That network now includes the winemakers, artisans, soap-makers, and small farms she collaborates with throughout the year.
“The heart of NCW is its people, creative, hardworking, and community-minded,” Foss said. “Our gifts are designed to connect people to our region, whether welcoming new residents, celebrating visitors, or sending love from afar.”
One of her favorite creations, the “Columbia Reserve” collection, features products from 11 small businesses. It reflects the handmade and the rooted at a time when shoppers increasingly look for authenticity over mass-produced options.
“Every box we ship is made by real people,” Foss said. “PEOPLE MAKE BETTER PRODUCTS THAN MACHINES. That’s the lifeline of this business.”
As the holiday season approaches, Foss says launching That’s A Wrap has shown her something she already believed: this region’s creative and agricultural community is deeply interconnected and remarkably generous.
“This journey has reminded me how strong our local network is and how much people genuinely want to support one another,” she said. “It’s been incredibly rewarding to see local businesses shine through these gifts and to know that, together, we’re building something sustainable that celebrates our community, our makers, and the spirit of our valley.”
To explore collections, order online, or just to learn more, visit thatsawrapgifting.com.