This year, more than 260 food purveyors/crafters from around the country have been tapped as finalists in the 2016 Good Food Awards.
From nearly 2,000 entries in 13 categories — from cider and cheese to pickled foods and charcuterie — the finalists “exemplify the country’s diverse and deep-rooted food traditions” according to organizers.
It’s a nail-biting few months before the winners are announced Friday, January 15, 2016, at Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture. Here’s who made the cut…with locals in red.
BEER
(512) Brewing Company, (512) Pecan Porter, Texas
Almanac Beer Co., Farmer’s Reserve Citrus & Golden Gate Gose, California
Back Forty Beer Company, Back Forty Beer Company Paw Paws Peach Wheat,Alabama
Bluejacket Brewery, Whiskey Barrel-Aged Double Mexican Radio & Impromptu,District of Columbia
Eel River Brewing Company, California Blonde Ale, California
Fish Brewing Company, Wild Salmon Pale Ale, Washington
Fort Point Beer Company, Manzanita, California
Fullsteam Brewery, Brandy Barrel-Aged First Frost, North Carolina
Headlands Brewing Company, Pt. Bonita Pilsner, California
High Water Brewing, Aphotic Imperial Porter, California
Jester King Brewery, Bière de Blanc du Bois & Reposé, Texas
Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales, Maracaibo Especial, Michigan
Lakefront Brewery, Inc., Growing Power Organic Farmhouse Pale Ale & Organic Beer Line Barley Wine, Whiskey Barrel-aged & New Grist Ginger, Wisconsin
Ninkasi Brewing Company, Dawn of the Red India Red Ale, Oregon
Pike Brewing Company, Pike Wood Aged Kilt Lifter, Washington
Port City Brewing Company, Optimal Wit & Port City Porter & Monumental IPA,Virginia
Reuben’s Brews, Robust Porter, Washington
Rising Tide Brewing Company, Daymark, Maine
Rogue Ales & Spirits, Rogue Farms Fresh Roast, California
Rolling Meadows Brewery, Barrel Aged Abe’s Ale, Illinois
CHARCUTERIE
Avalanche Cheese Company, Pork and Goat Finocchiona, Colorado
Black Pig Meat Co., Coppa, California
Blackberry Farm, Salume Toscano & Finocchiona Salume & Guanciale, Tennessee
Charlito’s Cocina, Salami Picante, New York
Cure Cooking, Dry-cured Aged Country Bacon, Nebraska
Dickson’s Farmstand Meats, Parisian Ham, New York
Fork in the Road Foods, Uncured Black Forest Ham, California
Fortuna’s Sausage Company, Pepperoni, Vermont
Fra’ Mani Handcrafted Foods, Soppressata, California
Island Trollers, Troll Caught Albacore with Jalepeno & Troll Caught Albacore with Habanero, Washington
JACüTERIE, Saucisson Provençal & Finocchiona, New York
JM Stock Provisions, JM Stock Tasso Ham, Virginia
La Quercia, Speck Americano, Iowa
Lox, Box & Barrel, Celtic Seafare, Gravlax style King Salmon, Texas
Nduja Artisans, Finocciona, Illinois
Olympia Provisions, Rigani Loukaniko, Oregon
Real Good Fish, Smoked Carmel Canyon Black Cod, California
Red Table Meat Co., The Royal & Pork Queen & Coppa, Minnesota
Regalis Foods, Columbia River Smoked Steelhead Trout Roe, New York
Sante Restaurant & Charcuterie, 5 Spice Duck Prosciutto & Tasso Ham, Washington
Underground Meats, Summer Sausage, Wisconsin
Wooden Spoons, Pork Rillettes, California
CHEESE
Ancient Heritage Dairy, Isabella, Oregon
Avalanche Cheese Company, Hand Bandaged Cheddar & Cabra Blanca, Colorado
Bellwether Farms, Whole Milk Ricotta, California
Blackberry Farm, Singing Brook, Tennessee
Cowgirl Creamery, Red Hawk & Inverness, California
Cricket Creek Farm, Maggie’s Round, Massachusetts
Farms for City Kids, Tarentaise & Ashbrook & Reading, Vermont
Firefly Farms, Cabra LaMancha & Moo and Blue, Maryland
Garden Variety Cheese, Moonflower, California
Goat Lady Dairy, Lindale & Providence, North Carolina
Goldin Artisan Goat Cheese, Chaumine & Tomme de Vignes, Oregon
Jacobs and Brichford Farmstead Cheese, Adair & Briana, Indiana
Jacobs Creamery, Bloomy, Washington
James Ranch Artisan Cheese, Belford, Colorado
Many Fold Farm, Garrett’s Ferry, Georgia
Maple Hill Creamery, Whole Milk Yogurt, New York
Milton Creamery, Prairie Breeze, Iowa
Pennyroyal Farm, Reserve Boont Corners, California
Prodigal Farm, Field of Creams, North Carolina
Pugs Leap, Samson, California
Rogue Creamery, Flora Nelle & Rogue River Blue, Oregon
Sequatchie Cove Creamery, Coppinger, Tennessee
Tomales Farmstead Creamery, Teleeka, California
Uplands Cheese, Pleasant Ridge Reserve, Wisconsin
Winter Hill Farm, Tide Line, MaineCHOCOLATE
Areté Fine Chocolate, Camino Verde 75% Dark Chocolate, California
Brasstown Chocolate, Ecuador 75% & Belize 70%, North Carolina
Charm School Chocolate, 70% Dark Belize, Maryland
Creo Chocolate, Purely Dark, Oregon
Dick Taylor Craft Chocolate, 70% Bolivia, Alto Beni, California
Escazu Artisan Chocolates, 70% Piura Blanco, Peru, North Carolina
Fruition Chocolate, Bolivian Wild Harvest 74% & Nacional Dark Milk 68%, New York
Just Good Chocolate, Madagascar 70%, Michigan
Lonohana Estate Chocolate, Kanahiku 70% Dark, Hawaii
Nathan Miller Chocolate, Gingerbread Bar, Pennsylvania
Patric Chocolate, Triple Ginger & Browned Butter Bar & Red Coconut Curry, Missouri
Ritual Chocolate, Mid Mountain Blend & Belize 75%, Utah
Rogue Chocolatier, Jamaica & Tranquilidad, Massachusetts
SPAGnVOLA, SPAGnVOLA 70% Single- Estate Dominican Republic & SPAGnVOLA 75% Single Estate Dominican Republic, MarylandCIDER
2 Towns Ciderhouse, Traditions Riverwood, Oregon
AeppelTreow Winery, Barn Swallow, Wisconsin
Argus Cidery, Malus Cuvée & Perennial 2013, Texas
Art + Science, Wild Perry, Oregon
Big B’s Hard Cider, Pear Supply & Orchard Original & Grizzly Brand, Colorado
Eaglemount Wine and Cider, Ginger Cider, Washington
Eden Ice Cider Company, Brandy Barrel Heirloom Blend & Sparkling Semi-Dry & Sparkling Dry, Vermont
Ela Cider Company, Stone Silo, Wisconsin
Eve’s Cidery, Albee Hill 2014, New York
Finnriver Farm & Cidery, Firebarrel, Washington
Foggy Ridge Cider, Handmade, Virginia
Shacksbury, Lost and Found & Farmhouse, Vermont
Snowdrift Cider Co., Cornice & Red,
COFFEE
Bird Rock Coffee Roasters, Panama Esmerelda Estate, Lino Lot Natural, California
Blue Bottle Coffee, Guatemala El Injerto, New York
Commonwealth Coffee, Kenya Nyeri Gachatha Lot #160 AA & Panama Carmen Estate Washed Geisha,Colorado
Equator Coffees & Teas, Panama Finca Sophia Gesha, Marin, California
Evans Brothers Coffee, Kenya Gatundu Karinga AB, Idaho
JBC Coffee Roasters, Finca La Mula Panama Geisha, Wisconsin
Joe Coffee Company, Ethiopia Guji Yabitu Koba, New York
Kickapoo Coffee Roasters, Organic Ethiopian Yirgacheffe Idido Cooperative,Wisconsin
Klatch Coffee, Kenya Karatu, California
Mudhouse Coffee Roasters, Finca La Mula CAC Reserve Geisha, Virginia
NEAT Coffee, Kenya Gachatha, Connecticut
Noble Coffee Roasting, Ethiopian ‘Hama’, Oregon
Oak Cliff Coffee Roasters, Panama Carmen Geisha, Texas
Olympia Coffee Roasting Company, Ethiopia Adame Garbota, Washington
Onyx Coffee Lab, Colombian Granja la Esperanza Margaritas Natural, Arkansas
Red Whale Coffee, Elida Geisha, San Rafael, California
Ruby Coffee Roasters, Ethiopia Guji Uraga, Wisconsin
Speckled Ax Wood Roasted Coffee, Ethiopia Yirgacheffe Hafursa, Maine
Spyhouse Coffee Roasting Co., Suke Quto – Ethiopia, Minnesota
Square One Coffee, Ethiopia Yirgacheffe Adado, PennsylvaniaCONFECTIONS
American Spoon, Chocolate Fudge Sauce, Michigan
Amy E’s Bakery, Peanut Brittle, Oregon
Ashby Confections, Fresh Orange Sour Strips & Salty Desert Heat, California
Askinosie Chocolate, Hey, Hey Chocolate Hazelnut Spread, Missouri
Batch PDX, Batch Bar & Twicks Bar, Oregon
Bees & Beans, Honey Bar Reserve, Oregon
Bixby & Co., Nutty For You, Maine
Black Dinah Chocolatiers, Maine Mint Truffle, Maine
Ethereal Confections, Blood Orange and Vanilla Bean Meltaway, Illinois
Farm Chocolate, Panforte in Dark, Sebastopol, California
Fat Toad Farm, Fat Toad Farm Original Goat’s Milk Caramel Sauce, Vermont
French Broad Chocolates, Hazelnut & Almond Dragee, North Carolina
JJ’s Sweets Cocomels, Palm Sugar Cocomel, Colorado
Katherine Anne Confections, Cucumber Cooler Caramel, Illinois
Lake Champlain Chocolates, Apple Cider Caramels, Vermont
Little Apple Treats, Rose and Cocoa nib Caramels, Sebastopol, California
McCrea’s Candies, Black Lava Sea Salt Caramels, Massachusetts
Neo Cocoa, Toffee Nib Brittle, California
Nosh This, Lavender Crack, California
Sapore della Vita, Caramel Sauce & Torrone & Totally Fudged- Chocolate Fudge Sauce,Florida
Serendipity Confections, Chocolate Covered Butter Caramels with Fleur de Sel,Wyoming
St. Croix Chocolate Co., Wild Grape and Peanut Butter Bar, Minnesota
Videri Chocolate Factory, Sugarplum Ganache Bonbon, North Carolina
HONEY
Ames Farm Limited, Honey Comb, Minnesota
Bee Girl, Bee Girl Honey, Oregon
Bee Local, Bee Local Sauvie Honey & Bee Local Coastal Mountain Honey, Oregon
Bee Squared Apiaries, Rose Honey, Colorado
Bees’ Needs, Fabulous Fall, New York
BHealthy BHappy, Spearmint Infused Honey, Arizona
Bloom Honey, Orange Blossom, California
Gold Star Honeybees, Gold Star Honey, Maine
Hall’s Honey, Honey, Nevada
Hani Honey Company, Raw Creamed Wildflower Honey, Florida
Honey Bean Farm, Wild Wetland Honey, Massachusetts
Mikolich Family Honey, Sage and Wild Buckwheat, California
MtnHoney, Comb Honey Chunk & Sourwood Honey & Wildflower Honey, Georgia
Organic Mountains, Sourwood Honey, Georgia
Posto Bello Apiaries, Honey, Maine
Sequim Bee Farm, Honey, Washington
Simmons Family Honey, Saw Palmetto Honey, Georgia
State Street Honey, Raw Honey Peninsula Blend, California
Swarm Chasers Apiaries, Comb Honey, Georgia
Two Million Blooms, Raw honey, Illinois
UrbanBeeSF, Tree Blossom Honey Quince & Tree Blossom Honey Nopa, California
Waxing Kara, Spring Honey, MarylandOILS
Apollo Olive Oil, Sierra & Mistral, California
Berkeley Olive Grove 1913, California Mission Blood Orange, California
Calivirgin, Calivirgin Jalapeno-Garlic Olive Oil, California
Clif Family, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, California
Coppal House Farm, Sunflower Oil, New Hampshire
Grumpy Goats Farm, Picual EVOO, California
Hummingbird Wholesale, Organic Pumpkin Seed Oil, Oregon
La Nogalera Walnut Oil, La Nogalera Walnut Oil, California
La Tourangelle, Gourmande Roasted Hazelnut Oil, California
MoonShadow Grove, Ascolano, California
Oliver Oil Co., Oliver Farm Green Peanut Oil & Oliver Farm Sunflower Oil, Georgia
The Olive Press, Sevillano Extra Virgin Olive Oil, California
Wei Kitchen, Organic Shallot Oil, WashingtonPANTRY
Adoboloco, Adoboloco Pineapple Hot Sauce, Hawaii
Akka’s Handcrafted Foods, Akka’s Curry Paste, California
Blackberry Farm, Reserve Pecan Sorghum Butter & Barrel Aged Muscadine Vinegar,Tennessee
Blake Hill Preserves, Moroccan Plum and Fennel Chutney, Vermont
Bourbon Barrel Foods, Bourbon Barrel Aged Worcestershire Sauce, Kentucky
Brooklyn Delhi, Tomato Achaar, New York
Cowboy Syd, Cowboy Syd’s D-Lish Sauce, Virginia
Decadence Gourmet, Colorado-Style Southern Chow Chow, Colorado
Happy Quail Farms, Farm Style Relish, California
HeathGlen Farm & Kitchen, Romesco & Harissa, Minnesota
Home Grown Food Products, Fermented Hot Sauce, Oregon
Hoskins Berry Farm, Blackberry Vinegar, Oregon
Johnson Berry Farm, Strawberry Pepper Sauce, Washington
Kitchens Of Africa, Zanzibar, North Carolina
Labrosse Farm, Heirloom Tomato Sweet and Spicy Jam, Michigan
Langdon Wood Maple Syrup, Langdon Wood 1814 Barrel-Aged Hot Sauce, District of Columbia
Lindera Farms, Lindera Farms Honey Vinegar, Virginia
Lucky Dog Hot Sauce, Brown Label, California
Mimi’s Confitures, Radicchio Marmalade, California
MixedMade, Trees Knees Spicy Syrup, New York
NW Elixirs Hot Sauce Co., NW Elixirs #3 Hott Smoke & NW Elixirs #2 Verde Hott,Oregon
One Culture Foods, Sweet Savory Spicy, New York
Pogue Mahone Pickles, Premium Dill Pickle Mustard, Texas
SALSAOLOGY, Ancho Chile and Tamarind Sauce, California
Spoiled Rotten Vinegar, Blackstrap Vinegar, California
Sweet Farm Sauerkraut, Cultured Mustard, Maryland
Turtle Rock Farm, Garlic Scape Relish, MainePICKLES
American Spoon, Ramp Kimchi, Michigan
Atwater’s, Pickled Hakurei Turnips, Maryland
Blackberry Farm, Ramp Kraut, Tennessee
Blue Bus Cultured Foods, Shakedown Beet & Kraut-chi & Cortido, Washington
Choi’s Kimchi Co., White Napa Kimchi & Napa Kimchi & Radish Kimchi, Oregon
Crock & Jar, Pickle Kraut, New York
Farmer’s Daughter, Ramp and Mustard Seed Kraut & Ruby Kraut & Hot Chili Okra Pickles, Tennessee
Grandma’s Gourmets, Bloody Pickles, Minnesota
Hat Creek Provisions, Texas Style Sauerkraut, Texas
Hosta Hill, GochuCurry Kraut, Massachusetts
LevProbiotic’s Inc, Lev’s Black Currant Kombucha, California
Mama O’s Premium Kimchi, Mama O’s Premium Baby Bok Choy Kimchi, New York
Marcia’s Munchies, Cherry Pops & Little Hotties, Michigan
Ozuké, Bloody Mary Kraut & Ruby Calendula Kraut, Colorado
Pacific Culture, Spicy Oregano Carrot Sticks, California
Pernicious Pickling Co., Pickled Red Beets: Fashionably Dill, California
Preservation & Co., Hefeweizen Bread and Butter Chips, California
Real Pickles, Organic Garlic Dill Pickles, Massachusetts
Republic of Jam, Pickled Peaches, Oregon
Taste Elevated, Sweet and Tangy Mustard Seeds, Texas
The Brinery, Up North Sauerkraut, Michigan
Two Chicks Farm, Dill Pickles, North Carolina
Wild West Ferments, Seasonal Sauerkraut, California
Wine Forest, Pickled Sea Beans, CaliforniaPRESERVES
American Spoon, Wild Thimbleberry Jam & Wild Elderberry Jelly, Michigan
Amour Spreads, Black Currant Blackberry Jam & Tayberry Jam, Utah
Black Radish Creamery, Outback Cherry, Ohio
Blackberry Farm, Strawberry Balsamic Preserves, Tennessee
Crosstown Sweets, Apricot and Vanilla Jam, New York
Farmer’s Daughter, Bourbon’d Figs, North Carolina
Fiddlehead Farm, Blueberry and Cinnamon Basil Jam, North Carolina
Friend in Cheeses Jam Co., Golden Sageberry Jam, California
Girl Meets Dirt, Shiro Plum with Mint Spoon Preserves, Washington
Green Jam Man, Strawberry Blood Orange Jam, Vermont
Happy Girl Kitchen Co., Raspberry Lemon Jam, California
HeathGlen Farm & Kitchen, Raspberry Chambord Jam, Minnesota
Josephine’s Feast!, Hand Foraged Wild Beach Plum Preserves, New York
Kansas City Canning Co., 7-Pepper Jelly, Missouri
Kelly’s Jelly, Kelly’s Habanero Pepper Jelly, Oregon
Little River Pantry, Wicked Hot Pepper Jelly, New Hampshire
Modern Gingham Preserves, Raspberry Violet, Colorado
Monkeypod Jam, Roselle Jam, Hawaii
Mt. Hope Farms, Premium Spiced Marionberry Fruit Spread, Oregon
Small Batch Kitchen, Curried Yellow Tomato, Pennsylvania
Southport Grocery And Cafe, Apple Butter, Illinois
The Good Stuff, Best Plum Jam, California
The Jelly Queens, Super Berry, Texas
The Orchard at Flathead Lake, Huckle-Cherry Jam, Montana
Bear & Eagle Products, 1.0.1 Ultra Premium Vodka, California
Bittermilk, No. 6 Oaxacan Old Fashioned, South Carolina
Caledonia Spirits, Tom Cat Barrel Aged Gin, Vermont
Catoctin Creek Distilling Company, Roundstone Rye, Virginia
Christina Maser, Raspberry Shrub, Pennsylvania
Elixir, Iris, Oregon
Far North Spirits, Gustaf Navy Strength Gin, Minnesota
Five By Five Tonics, Barrel-Aged Vanilla Bitters, California
Happy Girl Kitchen Co., Spicy Apricot Shrub, California
INNA Shrub, QUINCE Shrub & Cherokee Purple TOMATO Shrub, California
Kansas City Canning Co., Apple Caraway Shrub, Missouri
Mad River Distillers, Malvados, Vermont
Marble Distilling Co., Moonlight Expresso, Colorado
Port Morris Distillery, Pitorro Shine, New York
Rare Botanical Bitters, Magnolia Syrup & Lapsong Souchong Syrup, Illinois
Richland Distilling Company, Single Estate Old Georgia Rum, Georgia
Salute!, Dragoncello, South Carolina
Swallowtail Farm, Elderflower Syrup, Michigan
The Bitter Housewife, Cardamom Bitters, Oregon
Venus Spirits, Gin Blend No. 2, California
Wigle Whiskey, Monongahela Rye Whiskey, Pennsylvania