Empty plastic bottles curve around the machine that fills each with waffle syrup, on go the Griffin’s labels, the lids and the bottles are packed — a dozen at a time — into boxes that are shipped to any number of stores in a five-state region.

Many end up at Muskogee area stores, along with Griffin jams, jellies and mustards, plus Angel Soft toilet paper, Mardi Gras napkins, Dal-Tile ceramic work, Stone Bluff Wine and other products made in the Muskogee area.

Buying locally-made products clearly helps the local economy, said Marie Seabolt, director of marketing and research for Muskogee Development Corp.

But can buying locally-made products help your budget as well? It depends on the item, area manufacturers say.

Griffin Foods President John W. Griffin said Griffin products usually are priced in the middle of store brands and name brands.

“Our items are of such high quality, we try to price between the private labels and national brands,” he said.

For example, the waffle syrup is thicker than store brands.

“The private label product is going to run off the pancake,” he said. “Ours is thicker and not as wasteful.”

Similarly, the company’s yellow mustard is priced between the industry leader and private brands, which tend to be runny, he said. Also, Griffin’s uses whole berries in its preserves, he said.

Griffin said his company serves Oklahoma and surrounding states such as Texas, Arkansas, Kansas and Missouri, though some products go as far as California.

“That’s an advantage for us, especially with transportation costs,” he said.

Other prices, such as raw materials, corn syrup and plastic have gone up, he said.

“One thing we remember is our purpose: Sharing the great things of life,” he said. “One factor we try to get away from is that we don’t try to compete with the private labels. We are trying to get to niche products.”

Such products could include Sizzler fruit spreads with pepper seasoning, and seafood seasoning under the Lobster Bay Co. label.

The variety of products made at Muskogee’s Georgia-Pacific paper plant range in prices, said Gill Luton, public relations team leader for the plant. Such items include Angel Soft toilet paper, Mardi Gras napkins and Sparkle paper towels.

Luton said the Angel Soft is a “good product at a good price.”

At one Muskogee discount store, a 12-pack of double-ply, 352-sheet Angel Soft cost $1 less than Charmin and about the same price as American Fare.

Soft’n’Gentle toilet paper, sold in limited stores, “also is a good bargain,” Luton said.

For those who buy in bulk, Sam’s Club carries POM paper towels and tissue made at the Muskogee plant, Luton said.

Seabolt said buying such products has an indirect benefit to Muskogee’s economy.

“It eventually goes to Georgia-Pacific Corporation, which pays employees’ salaries,” she said.

Some area-made products are specialty items and may cost more than other products.

Alan Hiller, owner of Muskogee Beverage said Stone Bluff Wine, made near Haskell, is one of its more popular wines.

“But it is more expensive,” he said, figuring that Stone Bluff and other Oklahoma wineries do not produce the volume that larger vintners in California do.

Michael Harp, chef and hospitality coordinator for Stone Bluff Cellars, said most Oklahoma wineries are small boutique operations, so their products will cost more.

She said Oklahoma wines cost less than those made at California boutique wineries, where the product is made and the grapes are grown on site, could charge as much as $40 or $50.

“We try to be in the middle,” she said.



A few locally made products

• Elk River Pottery, Checotah.

• Black Hawk Mountain Creations, Porum.

• DVM Nutrition and Nutraceuticals, Muskogee.

• Griffin Foods: Syrup, jellies and jams, mustard, other food products, Muskogee.

• Two Sisters Candleworks, Fort Gibson.

• Stone Bluff Cellars, winery, Haskell.

• Heaven Scent Soaps and Candles, Muskogee.

• Georgia-Pacific: Angel Soft toilet paper, Sparkle Paper towels, MardiGras paper towels and napkins. POM paper products available at Sam’s Club; Muskogee.

• Dal-Tile, ceramic tile for homes and businesses, Muskogee.

• Love Bottling, Muskogee.

Source: Muskogee Development, Oklahoma Department of Agriculture Made in Oklahoma division.