Michael Pollan to Deliver Keynote Speech at the 10th Annual Good Awards
Renowned author, journalist and professor Michael Pollan has been named the keynote speaker at this year’s Good Food Awards and will join an all-star lineup, including honorary host Alice Waters, on Friday, January 17th at the Herbst Theater in the historic San Francisco War Memorial and Performing Arts Center. For more than thirty years, Michael Pollan has been writing books and articles about the places where nature and culture intersect: on our plates, in our farms and gardens and in our minds. He is the author of five New York Times best sellers and in 2010 was named to TIME’s annual list of the world’s 100 most influential people.
The evening will honor 207 winners hailing from 37 states, Washington D.C. and Guam, across 17 different categories (beer, charcuterie, cheese, chocolate, cider, coffee, confections, elixirs, fish, grains, honey, oils, pantry, pickles, preserves, snacks, spirits). All winners demonstrate not only gastronomic excellence, but also a deep commitment to sustainable social and environmental practices. The winners will be joined by Blind Tasting judges, food luminaries such as Alice Medrich and Patrick Martins, retailers, media and good food enthusiasts at the Oscars-style gala to celebrate the hard-working crafters building a better American food culture.
Following the Awards Ceremony, guests will be able to taste the Winning products in buffets as well as composed bites at an After Party co-hosted by Bi-Rite Market. To help celebrate 10 years of good food, prominent Bay Area pastry chefs including Liz Prueitt of Tartine and Annie Callan of Zuni Café will also create 12 one-of-a-kind cakes featuring Good Food Award Finalist ingredients. These special cakes are available for purchase in an online auction and will also be presented at the After Party.
On Sunday, January 19, the 2020 Good Food Award winners will showcase their winning products at the Good Food Awards Marketplace held in conjunction with the Fort Mason Farmers’ Market from 9am – 2pm. A limited-edition 10 Years of Good Food tote is on sale now for pickup at the Marketplace, filled with cheese from Pennyroyal Farm, pate de fruit from The Modern Candy Company and crackers from Rustic Bakery. The vibrant gathering is a once-a-year opportunity to engage with crafters from across the country and to purchase goods (including beer, spirits and ciders) that might not otherwise be available in the Bay Area.
Organizers & Supporters:
The Good Food Awards are organized by the Good Food Foundation 501 (c) 3. The Presenting Sponsor is the Good Food Merchants Collaborative, comprised of 19 of the country’s top independently-owned retailers from Ann Arbor to Oakland to Sioux Falls, all of whom are committed to supporting America’s great food crafters. Joining them is a vibrant group of key supporters, including Premiere Sponsors Bi-Rite Market, Williams Sonoma, Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets and Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture. Lead Sponsors Dominic Phillips Event Marketing, Veritable Vegetable, Ten Speed Press and Clarkson Potter also make the weekend possible.
Special thanks to the Good Food Merchants Collaborative Members:
Bi-Rite Market, Canyon Market, Cowgirl Creamery, Cured, Di Bruno Bros., Each Peach Market, Foragers Market, Glen’s Garden Market, Good Earth Natural Foods, Goose the Market, Harmons Grocery, Look’s Market, Market Hall Foods, Market of Choice, Palace Market, TASTE, Woodstock Farmers’ Market, World Foods Portland, Zingerman’s Family of Businesses
Tickets for the Good Food Awards weekend are here.