Try chocolates made with local produce

Ocean State Chocolates and Confections is introducing its "From the Farm Chocolate Collection," truffles made with products fresh from Rhode Island's farms.

The debut collection features the season's harvest from local farms, orchards, dairies, vineyards, apiaries and local coffee roasters. The truffles in the Winter/Spring collection are: AppleJack, made with apple cider from Hill Orchards in Johnston; Carrot Cake, made with organic carrots from Scratch Farm in Cranston; RuBeet, made with beets from Simmons Farm in Middletown; Sweetie Pie, made with organically grown Mooregold heirloom winter sweet squash from Rabbit's Dance Farm in Cumberland; BeeBuzz, made with honey from Celestial Offerings Apiary in Slatersville; and Mocha Harvest made with espresso from New Harvest Coffee Roasters in Pawtucket.

Ocean State Chocolates creates and dips all its chocolates by hand in small batches, including its signature truffles, bon bons, caramels, turtles, fruits and nuts, fudge and baked confections.

Since opening in 2003, Ocean State Chocolates has been awarded Best of New England for Chocolates by Boston Magazine's Travel and Leisure, Best of Rhode Island by Rhode Island Monthly magazine, and was the first Rhode Island chocolate maker to present at the prestigious James Beard House in New York City.

The From the Farm Chocolate Collection is available at Ocean State Chocolates' retail store at 4 Brown St., in Wickford Village or can be ordered by calling 667-7317 or sending an email to OSChocolates@ aol.com. The six-piece truffle collection is priced at $12.99.