Once again Vermont specialty food producers shone brightly at the annual sofi Awards bringing three golds back to the Green Mountain State.
The sofi Awards, which stands for “specialty outstanding food innovation,” are the most prestigious awards in the specialty food industry and honor excellence across a variety of food categories, from vinegars to vegan snacks.
Vermont's winners were Big Picture Farm of Townshend, Jan's Farmhouse Crisps of Stowe, and Vermont Creamery of Websterville.
This year's winners were selected from more than 3,200 entries by a panel of culinary experts in a blind taste test.
“With three more golds and a host of finalists at the sofi Awards this year, our specialty food producers have again shown that Vermont is a culinary giant in a pint sized package, performing as well or better than the actual behemoths of California and New York,” said Chuck Ross, Secretary of the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets, in a news release.
“Once again Vermont producers rise to the top with significant numbers of awards this year,” said Jim Harrison of the Vermont Specialty Food Association. “We are very proud of the quality food products our specialty food members produce and are happy to see the recognition several are receiving.”
For the third year in a row, Big Picture Farm took home gold in the confectionary category with their Sea Salt & Vanilla Farmstead Goat Milk Caramels. They were also a finalist in the chocolate category.
Vermont Creamery, which has won a number of sofi Awards in the past, received top honors in the cheese category for their Bijou cheese, a pasteurized goats' milk cheese shaped into little buttons. Their Bonne Bouche was also a finalist in the cheese category.
Finally, Jan's Farmhouse Crisps won in the cracker category for their Cranberry Pistachio Crisp.
Blake Hill Preserves of Grafton was a finalist in the jam and preserves category.
This summer, 38 Vermont exhibitors will showcase their products in front of 25,000 buyers at the annual Summer Fancy Food Show at the Javits Center in New York City, June 26-28. In partnership with the Vermont Specialty Food Association and the Agency of Commerce & Community Development, the Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets sponsors a Vermont promotion.