Frequently Asked Questions

We want to give each application a good amount of focus and attention, calling suppliers listed when necessary to see if we have any questions and consulting with experts if we are not sure if your practices meet the guidelines. The $50 fee covers this administrative time.

Yes. We look forward to counting ice cream crafters, tea blenders and spice makers and amongst the Good Food Guild membership, which is open to all craft food producers. Click the “other” box in the application to see the eligibility standards, and if you meet the standards, we welcome your application.

We love farmers. The Good Food Guild is focused on connecting, convening and promoting value-added food producers. Some of them are farmers, such as farmstead cheese producers, cideries and distillers using their own orchard fruit, and homestead picklers and preservers. However, since there are already many great organizations uniting family farmers which share sustainability values, we are focused on bringing together the craft food producers. In the end, if they thrive, so will all the farmers from whom they buy in bulk.

Specialty food is a 120 billion dollar industry. A tiny portion of that industry is producing food with the values of taste, authenticity and responsibility in mind, using their businesses to create good Green Collar jobs, enhance rather than deplete the environment, and build a healthier community. The Good Food Guild exists to help that less than 10% industry segment who is, to foster, distinguish and unite Good Food producers to become a vibrant economic force in America.

Our goal is to create a community of businesses that are all passionate about the food they craft and the community that helps them do it, from farmers to the grocers they work with. The questions are designed to let us really understand what you are doing, and ensure each member meets the holistic eligibility standards.

You will be notified by email with your status within four weeks.

After 24 hours, your Guild application fee is non-refundable. If your application is not accepted, your yearly dues will be refunded. For active Guild members, refunds of yearly dues are considered on a case-by-case basis.

No, you will just need to tell us if anything has changed in terms of your production processes and supply chain.

Many! View our full list of Guild Member benefits here.

Yes. We’re continually working to add new benefits. For example, some recently added benefits include discounts on Verterra products and a profile on Localize.

We believe Good Food is made with real ingredients, local wherever possible, and respect amongst the people whose work goes into creating it. The standards for each category was developed originally for the Good Food Awards, by a diverse committee of leaders in the field who are pushing the envelope towards greater craftsmanship, as well as social and environmental sustainability. They, like us, believe that Good Food is made with good animal husbandry and without the use of artificial ingredients, hormones, synthetic pesticides, herbicides and fertilizer or genetically modified ingredients. The Good Food Guild standards reflect these beliefs, yet also acknowledge that each industry is at a different point in the journey towards “perfect” sustainability, both environmental and social. The committees who developed the standards can be found on the Good Food Awards website category pages. We revise the standards every two years to reflect new developments in each Good Food industry.

The Good Food Awards is a recognition program and the Good Food Guild is an annual membership program. Members in the Guild receive benefits including one free entry to the Awards and the opportunity to show at our Good Food Mercantiles.