Good Food Awards: Marin businesses named finalists

By Camila Pedrosa

The Modesto Bee

Hundreds of food products from across the U.S. were honored Thursday as being among the best ethically and responsibly produced items in the country.

The Good Food Awards announced finalists for its 2026 competition on Thursday morning, and California producers were well-acknowledged, with 65 products from the state on the list.

Richmond-based Far West Cider, a five-time Good Food Award winner, was honored for two of its ciders. The ciders are made from apples sourced from the company’s family-owned farm, Lucky You Orchards in Ripon, barely 10 miles north of Modesto.

Unsurprisingly, Tsar Nicoulai Caviar was once again named a finalist, giving the Concord-based, Wilton-farmed sturgeon fishery a chance to win four more Good Food Awards.

Two-time Good Food Award winner Corky’s Nuts and new entries JUST Creamery and Real Mojo Foods are the three other companies representing the Sacramento area’s production region at this year’s awards.

In Paso Robles, Yes Cocktail Co. is a finalist in the elixirs category for its seasonal warm spiced gingerbread syrup. The business has won two Good Food Awards in previous years for its sweet and refreshing cocktail mixers, but this would be its first award for a flavored syrup.

Marin-founded Equator Coffees’ Colombia Las Flores Thermal Shock Pink Bourbon is a finalist. Colombian coffee producer Jhoan Vergara’s innovative thermal shock method brings out floral, guava and lavender notes.

And West Marin’s Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Co. is a finalist for its Fennel Blue and Truffle Brie cheeses. Their Fennel Blue cheese elevates the fan-favorite Bay Blue with fennel seeds, adding a bit of sweetness to its usual earthy and umami flavors. The Truffle Brie, which took gold at the California State Fair last year, utilizes black summer truffles from Umbria, Italy.

Finalists for the oils and grains categories were not announced Thursday, as the judging for those products is set to occur in the spring. According to the Good Food Awards, the organization will release a full list of finalists in April, and winners will be announced on June 28. What are the Good Food Awards?

The annual Good Food Awards, held by the Good Food Foundation, honors the country’s sustainable food producers.

“The Good Food Awards recognizes that truly good food — the kind that brings people together and builds strong, healthy communities — contains all of these ingredients,” the foundation said on its website.

Producers are held to a strict standard regarding food sourcing transparency and ethics and thoughtful, responsible labor practices. Companies may nominate their own products among 18 food-specific categories — ensuring creamed honey won’t face off with a rolled oats granola bar — each with their own standards.

This year’s competition is the Good Food Awards’ 16th installment, returning to its usual blind tasting format after holding a special previous-winners-only edition for its 15th anniversary in 2025.

— Lifestyles Editor Colleen Bidwill contributed to this report.

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