MISSISSIPPI STATE -- The staff at the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station Sales Store, located on Mississippi State University’s campus, is gearing up for a busy holiday season and encouraging patrons to place orders now.

Customers should place their orders by early to mid-November for Christmas delivery.

“Christmas at the store starts in July. That’s when we start taking holiday orders,” said Debbie Huffman, manager of the MAFES Sales Store. “It is best to place orders early because we always sell out of cheese. Our vallagret and jalapeño pepper spread sell out first, but we will also quickly sell out of the inventory we have remaining for each variety of cheese.”

Along with Edam and the other popular cheeses that it is best known for, the store offers a variety of jellies, ice cream and spice blends. It also has a large selection of meat products, such as beef tenderloins, t-bone steaks, ribeye steaks, three varieties of smoked sausage, fresh sausage, cured ham and bacon, and lamb products.

“We sell a popular Southern Jelly Sampler party pack that includes three types of jellies,” Huffman said. “These jellies pair perfectly with our cheeses for holiday appetizers and tailgating parties. Also great for tailgating are our marinated pork loins, pulled pork, cooked Boston butts, Cajun andouille smoked sausage and cooked prime rib for sandwiches.”

To place an order, visit http://www.msucheese.com or call (662) 325-2338.

The store is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. To accommodate fans in town for the Nov. 20 football game, the shop will be open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. that day. Additionally, it will be open from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. on Nov. 19 and from 7:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Nov. 21. It will be closed Nov. 25 and 26 and will resume normal business hours from Nov. 29 to Dec. 17.

Writer: Jessica Spears