We are excited to announce that we have been selected as a Winner at the 2013 Good Food Awards, in the coffee category for our Organic Ethiopia Yirgacheffe Birhanu! Randy and I are heading to San Francisco this weekend for a black-tie Awards Ceremony at the San Francisco Ferry Building on friday night. Saturday we will be showcasing our coffee alongside the other winners at the Good Food Awards Marketplace. The Fancy Food Show is in town at the same time and 15,000 people are expected on the show floor. The list of Finalists and past Award Winners is a ‘Who’s Who’ in coffee, with highly respected industry professionals making up the judging panel. We have admired many of these roasters for years, so it is very gratifying to be recognized among industry peers such as these.
What are the Good Food Awards? Here are some of the details: 182 Finalists from 31 states were selected from among 1366 entries in nine categories: coffee, beer, charcuterie, cheese, chocolate, confections, pickles, preserves, and spirits. They represent the leaders of a growing movement of conscientious, talented food producers in every part of the country. Finalists are those entrants that rise to the top in the Blind Tasting and are also able to clearly articulate how they fit the Good Food Awards industry-specific criteria of environmental and social responsibility. Finalists attested to responsible production by detailing their efforts to eliminate or reduce pesticides, herbicides and chemical fertilizers, source ingredients locally where possible, implement water and energy conservation, ensure traceability to the farm level, practice good animal husbandry and exercise fair and transparent treatment of workers and suppliers.
In its 3rd year, the Good Food Awards http://www.goodfoodawards.org/ celebrate the kind of food we all want to eat: tasty, authentic, and responsibly produced. Awards are granted to outstanding American food producers and farmers providing their ingredients. The Awards Ceremony honors those who push their industries towards craftsmanship and sustainability while enhancing our agricultural landscape and building strong communities. The Good Food Awards seal, found on winning products, assures consumers they have found something exceptionally delicious that also supports sustainability and social good.
I'll report back after the event to share...