Good Food Awards Recognizes Ten Colorado Products — But No Colorado Brewers

Every year since 2012, the Good Food Awards have lauded artisan food producers in the U.S. by recognizing "tasty, authentic and responsibly produced" food and beverages. The Awards single out companies and individuals who manufacture the best food and beverages in traditional ways while committing to environmentally safe practices, local ingredients and community involvement. This year, awards were given in thirteen categories: beer, charcuterie, cheese, chocolate, cider, coffee, confections, honey, oils, pickles, preserves, spirits and pantry. The Good Food Awards held its annual ceremony and marketplace last weekend in San Francisco, where a number of Colorado producers were named winners.

Surprisingly, none of the fourteen winners in the beer category were from Colorado, an almost deliberate snub considering that our state ranks behind only California and Washington in total number of breweries — and those two states combined for five beer awards. But the Centennial State represented well in other categories, with a few surprises from lesser-known producers. Here's a list of the winners:

Charcuterie:
Avalanche Cheese Company (Basalt), Pork and Goat Finocchiona,

Cheese: 
Avalanche Cheese Company, Hand Bandaged Cheddar 
James Ranch Artisan Cheese (Durango), Belford

Cider:
Big B’s Hard Cider (Hotchkiss), Pear Supply & Orchard Original, Colorado

Coffee:
Commonwealth Coffee (Denver), Kenya Nyeri Gachatha Lot #160 AA

Confections:
JJ’s Sweets Cocomels (Boulder), Palm Sugar Cocomel

Bee Squared Apiaries (Berthoud), Rose Honey

Pantry:
Decadence Gourmet (Grand Junction), Colorado-Style Southern Chow Chow

Preserves:
Modern Gingham Preserves (Denver), Raspberry Violet, Colorado

Spirits:
Marble Distilling Co. (Carbondale), Moonlight Expresso, Colorado