In partnership with Santa Claus, food industry professionals belong to a sort of honorary elf society. A network external to the North Pole, they help make Christmas possible.
By Marissa Sertich
With Christmas approaching faster than an elf on a treadmill, the malls are getting more crowded, wallets are getting lighter, and the line at the post office resembles that for a new attraction at a theme park. But, rather than a fun ride at the end, there’s a government employee selling stamps with the picture of either the baby Jesus or Elvis on them. 
This year, I feel a new sort of affinity toward the post-office employee. No matter how disgruntled, snarly, or dismissive, he or she may be, I think of the lines winding out the bakery door and of the gingerbread men whose heads will be chomped without a single thought of their creator’s labor. When I peer through the post office window and see the boxes piled to the ceiling, I survey the organization and work involved with such vivid imagination that I nearly give myself a panic attack. Thank goodness I’m in the cookie department.
Those of us in the food industry have also shifted into full gear. In partnership with Santa Claus, we belong to a sort of honorary elf society. A network external to the North Pole, we help make Christmas possible. Whether shipping your bundles from here to Kalamazoo, or frosting your cupcakes red and green, we possess elf-like tendencies.
People often overlook those who make their holiday parties possible. Ordering the ingredients, organizing the helper-elves’ work schedules, the stress of deadlines, the long hours, all while trying to behave as a civilized elf should, can take its toll.
Yet, despite the obvious burdens, through careful organization and preparation (and a little bit of chaos), it is fun to be a part of the holiday celebrations of hundreds of people. Through hard work, we put little more cake into the world and that’s a lovely thought. Once the celebrations are over and the last pie is boxed and sold, I am certain that there is magic in Christmas. Without flying sleighs, or talking snowmen, or even Santa Claus, people do magical things at Christmas time.
It’s a dirty job… But… ;) Thanks for this!