I fondly remember when Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders took part in the Warren Fourth of July celebration every year. Bernie would stroll down the parade route on Main Street by himself—dressed in sneakers and an untucked collared shirt—waving to his people. For Vermonters, Bernie’s bid for the Democratic nomination is about more than just politics: it’s about rallying behind someone who has so positively shaped many communities that compromise our great state.

A photo of Bernie I took at the 2014 Warren 4th of July Parade, before his run for president.

To show support for Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign, a number of Vermont businesses are giving back through locally made Bernie swag. Even though the Bernie Sanders’ campaign has dissuaded local businesses from making contributions, many small business owners are contributing personally or donating proceeds to foundations like the Vermont Veterans’ Fund. In addition to producing monetary support for the campaign, Vermont-made Bernie swag is helping to increase the dialogue about what Vermont’s presidential hopeful stands for.

From free Bernie tattoos from Aartistic Inc. to Zero Gravity’s “slightly sour and forward-thinking” Bernie Weisse beer, Bernie Sanders’ face has become representative of so much more than a presidential nomination in Vermont. To many people nationwide, he’s the face of hope, real talk, unity, and our future. I also imagine he’s also a hell of a lot of fun to market as someone who is so quintessentially Vermont… No matter what candidate you support and where you lie politically, I urge you to vote to help shape the future of our country.

Here are the Vermont businesses who are giving back to Bernie through their locally made products:

Bernie Bars, Nutty Steph’s, Middlesex, Vermont

Owner of Nutty Steph’s—the producer of Vermont’s best granola and chocolate bars IMO—Jaquelyn Rieke is ready for honesty in our leadership. As a way to support Bernie and “spread thousands of impressions of his face around the community,” she concocted the Bernie Bar, which is decadent dark chocolate with a liberal amount of sea salt. The Nutty Steph team has already sold 8,000 chocolate bars to as far as California (to the wife of a member of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, no less!).

The Bernie Bars, which can be purchased by the twelve pack (since 12 votes are better than one), are a vehicle for Bernie supporters to raise funds for the campaign. Nutty Steph’s sells the hand-poured and wrapped bars at cost. When a Bernie supporter buys a case of bars, they earn $33 to then donate to Bernie’s campaign. Additionally, Nutty Steph’s is running television commercials about Bernie and are holding phone banks for Bernie from their shop. They fancy themselves the “Bernie Central of Central Vermont.”

Why dark chocolate? Jaquelyn quipped, “As wonderful of a leader as he is, the truth is, Bernie is a salty guy…” Her Bernie Bars are available from Nutty Steph’s website here.

Bernie Pendants, Jennifer Kahn Jewelry, Burlington, Vermont

Jennifer Kahn, a Burlington-based jewelry artist who is known for her Bohemian metal designs, turned to her craft as a way to contribute to the Bernie Sanders campaign. Jen describes her designs as modern relics, something her Bernie pendants—which are available in bronze or sterling silver with cords or chains ($28-$68)—certainly live up to.

Jen says she never has felt about a political candidate the way she feels about Bernie, so she wanted to do what she could to join his cause. “He’s so inspiring, the real deal. He walked the walk and talked the ‘tawk’ for 30 years.” Jen never had any intention of jumping on the Bernie-merch bandwagon, but she realized it was the best way for her to be able to give back. Jen said, “We live in a town that is as wonderful as it is because of the initiatives Bernie put in place when he was mayor here.”

Jen’s pendants are a way for her to “pay tribute to a great man, who made Burlington the bohemian mecca that it is today.” The pendants launched with her new site BurlingtonBoho.com on March 1, and she’s seen a number of pre-orders come in already from as far as Colorado. Her Bernie pendants are available from her Etsy shop here.

Bernie’s Beans, Capitol Grounds, Montpelier, Vermont

A Full-City Colombian coffee, Bernie’s Beans ($15 a pound) are a Bernie-branded, Vermont-roasted offering from Capitol Grounds in an effort to support the Vermont Veterans’ Fund. As their website states, “It’s not really about politics; there’s just something about Vermont, its sense of community, caring, and giving that’s shared between Bernie, ourselves, and much of the state.” Bob Watson, owner of Capitol Grounds, admitted that it’s chancy bringing politics into a business, but they felt it was a safe bet for a number of reasons:

• “Bernie’s a Vermonter running for president…how often does that happen?
• Regardless of whether or not you like Bernie or hate him, he’s been consistently on message. By the same token, he shows a level of integrity and honesty that is rare in Washington.
• He’s a character, someone that we could get behind as Vermonters, and a lot of fun to market.
• Regardless of where you stand on policy issues, nobody can argue with Bernie’s steadfast support of veterans’ issues (as he says, ‘If you can’t afford to take care of your veterans, then don’t go to war’).”

Capital Grounds has pledged to donate 20% of every pound of Bernie’s sold to the Vermont Veterans’ Fund. To date, they’ve donated nearly $7,000 to Vermont veterans. Sales aren’t just limited to Vermont either. Capitol Grounds has been shipping Bernie’s Beans to California, Oregon and Washington, along with southern states, including Florida, Alabama, Tennessee and Georgia. Bernie’s Beans are available for purchase on the Capitol Grounds’ website here.

Bernie Sanders T-Shirts, Eat More Kale, Montpelier, Vermont

Bo Muller-Moore, made famous for his t-shirt company Eat More Kale’s epic battle against Chick-fil-A, is selling more Bernie screen-printed t-shirts than he ever imagined. Before selling a single shirt or bumper sticker, Bo contacted Bernie’s office when Bernie announced his presidential bid. Bo said, “It’s Bo, the Eat More Kale guy here, what can I do in return to help you?” He decided to make an “unofficial, official t-shirt… a kind of guerrilla marketing for Bernie.”

To date, Bo has sold tens of thousands of dollars worth of Bernie shirts and has shipped to every corner of the United States. When he first put his Bernie t-shirts up for sale last May, he had orders from Alabama, Louisiana and Utah within minutes. Bo realized he was onto something that could personally help him support Bernie at a higher level, while also creating awareness for his Eat More Kale brand.

“While I hoped it would be good for Bernie, he’s doing good for me in the long run too. I did see a bump in business in 2015-2016, a wave I’m calling the ‘Bernie Bump’,” Bo shared. Why is Bo a Bernie supporter personally? “Bernie doesn’t flip flop. He’s consistent. He’s not a baby kisser.”

Bo offers two different Bernie t-shirt designs; one with a Bernie silhouette of Bernie’s face and a second, a more popular offering with Bernie’s face joined by “2016” and “Bernie”. Also available are Bernie mugs, bumper stickers, hoodies, onesies and limited editions t-shirts, such as Bernie tie-dyed shirts. Bernie t-shirts are available for purchase from Eat More Kale’s website here.

Bernie Sanders Travel Mugs, Wild Wood Vermont, Hinesburg

“Bernie won’t take our money, so we offer our customers $10 off our original mug sale price for any Bernie-engraved mugs sold,” say Sean and Erin Murray who make high-end wooden travel mugs through their business Wild Wood Vermont. “We hope that our customers will take that $10 and make a personal donation to the Bernie Sanders 2016 Presidential Campaign campaign.” Available in White Cedar and Red Cedar, the Bernie mugs, which are made on a lathe out of a solid block of Cedar, can even be personalized.

Since February, Sean and Erin have sold 25 engraved wooden travel mugs and have shipped to as far as Alabama. Personally, they are supporting Bernie because he’s a “smart individual with a lot of amazing ideas that can take our country far.” Their Bernie travel mugs are available here on Wild Wood Vermont’s website.

Feel the Bern Jam, Sidehill Farm Jam, Brattleboro

Sidehill Farm’s “Feel the Bern” Mango-Habanero Bernie jam, supports Bernie’s campaign in two ways, according to owner Kelt Naylor. “It spreads the Bern. Having this jar show up on store shelves and tables can’t help but start conversation… It also allows us to increase our donations to the campaign.”

To date, Sidehill Farm has sold almost 5,000 jars of “Feel the Bern,” shipping to as far as Alaska. They’ve also have multiple requests from European countries, as well as Australia.

Why are the Naylor’s supporting Bernie? “We believe in his simple messages of getting big dollar influence out of politics and his lifelong fight for the middle class and under-privileged in this country… Not to mention he’s a Vermonter!” Sidehill Farm’s Feel the Bern jam is available for sale on their website here.

Bernie Sanders Magnets & Buttons, Grey Owl Designs, Winooski

Matt Gang, owner of Grey Owl Designs in Winooski, says his magnets and buttons are a way for his customers to “feel the burn” with style. He doesn’t donate a portion of sales to Bernie’s campaign, but Bernie is the “only politician to receive [his] hard-earned money.” To date, Gang has sold 75 of his buttons and pins and has shipped them to California and a number of other states. Gang said, “It’s always encouraging when someone in a conservative state orders a button.”

How did Gang come up with the idea? He was hanging out with creative friends and one of them suggested making ‘Bernie Toast’ or ‘Bernt Toast.” The next day, he lasered up some toasted, then another friend say the toast and asked Gang to make a pair of Bernie earrings for his wife. Disc earrings are largely he same as buttons, so he decided to start making campaign buttons, but only Bernie buttons. “I do not want my soul tarnished with any Trump merchandise…” Gang said.

What does Gang support Bernie? “Bernie is a genuine, honest man of integrity. That’s really refreshing. I also agree with many of his policies. Health care should be a right.  Affordable tuition should be a right. People should not have to live with crushing debt because they got an education, or became ill. Bernie cares about the average citizen.” Gang’s Bernie buttons, magnets and earrings are available here through his Etsy shop.

Are you feeling the Bern and want to help Bernie and support local artisans?

Here are other Vermont businesses and their Bernie products to check out:

• Birdfolk Creative, Winooski: Bernie Sanders Earrings ($12) and a Bernie Sanders Felt Finger Puppet ($30)
• Dug Nap, Burlington: Bernie License Plate Prints ($19-$60)
• Grey Owl Designs, Winooski: Bernie Pins, Magnets & ($4.99 – $9.99)
• Green Mountain Boho, Wells: Keep Calm and Bernie On Dish Towels ($8)
• Sidehill Farm Jam, Brattleboro: Feel the Bern Mango Habanero Jam (a four pack for $36)
• LoVermont802, Williston: Babies for Bernie Onesie ($16) and Bernie Briefs ($10)

Know of other Vermont-made Bernie products? Share in the Comments below.