The Votes Are In: Meet the Good Food Awards Finalists of 2019
THE VOTES ARE IN: MEET THE GOOD FOOD AWARDS FINALISTS OF 2019
Inspiring us on Election Day, these 324 food & drink crafters from 40 states embody democratic values
San Francisco, CA (November 6, 2018) – On the historic day of the 2018 midterm elections, the Good Food Foundation is proud to announce the 324 companies in the running for a 2019 Good Food Award. With a demonstrated commitment to fostering land stewardship and cultivating social good, these outstanding food and drink crafters, many of them immigrants, represent the diversity of America and embody democratic values.
The 2019 Finalists recognized today are taking care of the commons for future generations, strengthening their communities through their decisions as small businesses, and building international relations with direct trade and above fair trade prices for cocoa, coffee and spices. Finalists from across the 16 categories embody what it means to be good global citizens, eschewing carbon-emitting fertilizers and pesticides, favoring practices that build soil health and sourcing local ingredients with low transportation-related carbon footprints.
The 401 products listed below from these 324 outstanding food and drink crafters first rose to the top in a blind tasting of 2,035 entries by 262 bakers, makers, farmers, journalists and chefs; then passed a rigorous vetting to confirm they meet Good Food Awards standards regarding supply chain transparency and environmentally sound agricultural practices. An additional 37 high scoring products were disqualified for not meeting the sustainability standards.
Amongst the Finalists are Ulrike Sitter of Ulli’s Oil Mill of Long Island City, a native Austrian who transforms the press cake from her high scoring hemp seed oil into an upcycled protein powder; Mike Swanson of Far North Spirits, who grows the organic rye and corn for his Roknar Minnesota Rye Whiskey on his fourth generation family farm; and Julie Sullivan and Carolyn Cesario of Ground Up PDX, a not-just-for-profit nut butter business offering training programs for formerly homeless and trafficked women. All of the Finalists – including 137 companies (42%) that have never won before – partner with hundreds of farmers, ranchers and fishermen to actively build a better food system.
The Winners will be announced on Friday, January 11, 2019, at a 1,000 person gala in the historic San Francisco War Memorial & Performing Arts Center, followed by two days of celebration including the public Good Food Awards Marketplace (Tickets: $5) and the industry-only Good Food Mercantile. A limited number of tickets are available to join the Winners and honorary host Alice Waters at the Awards Ceremony (Tickets: $235).
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 Williams Sonoma, Bi-Rite Market, Vermont Cheese Council and Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture. Lead Sponsors Dominic Phillips Event Marketing, Veritable Vegetable, Ten Speed Press, Gamut, and Impact HUB Bay Area 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
Green Zebra Grocery
Healdsburg SHED
Look’s Market
Market Hall Foods
Market of Choice
Palace Market
TASTE
Woodstock Farmers’ Market
World Foods Portland
Zingerman’s Family of Businesses
The full list of Finalists is here, and tickets for the Good Food Awards weekend are here.