For release: August 21, 2018
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Media Contacts: Rick Hummell, 608-224-5041 richard.hummell@wi.gov
or Bill Cosh, Communications Director, 608-224-5020 William2.Cosh@wi.gov
MADISON – Member companies from the popular Something Special from
Wisconsin™ (SSfW) program captured 22 of 42 possible awards at the
recent Wisconsin State Fair Grand Champion Eats & Treats competition.
SSfW member companies took home five 1st
place awards; four 2nds; five 3rds; and seven 4ths; along with the coveted Best
of Show Award - Grand Champion Eats & Treats. That award was won by
Wisconsin Hickory Syrup LLC of Princeton for their Wisconsin hickory fudge. Pleasant’s Best, a
Minoqua-based company, took first place in a new category open only to SSfW
members – Best Something from Wisconsin - Grand Champion Eats & Treats – for their Baled Hay sandwich relish.
This year marked the fifth year for the competition. Open to
Wisconsin small professional food businesses with yearly sales under $250,000,
the Wisconsin State Fair Grand Champion Eats & Treats competition is suited for small- to
mid-size players in the food processing industry.
Judging took place in about a dozen categories: pickles and
pickled vegetables; relishes, mustard and dressing; jams and jellies; barbecue
sauce and hot sauces; fruits and vegetables: pesto, pie filling, garlic, dried
fruits, tomato sauces, etc.; sweets: bakery, candy, cookies, caramels, fondue;
Thyme for Fun: any herb-infused dry mix (herb blends, spice blends, dip mixes,
etc.; fermented products (except alcohol); snack foods: crackers, granola,
nuts, etc. (except popcorn); popcorn and popcorn snacks; Best of Show - Grand
Champion; Best Something from Wisconsin - Grand Champion; and Best Packaging
Award - Grand Champion.
The 22 awards were won collectively by the following SSfW
companies: Pleasant's Best Sauces, Minocqua; Dashelitos Enterprises LLC,
Madison; Out of the Kitchen, Prairie du Sac; Garden of Eden Kingdom, Wauwatosa;
Croix Valley Foods, River Falls; Badger State Fruit Processing, Pittsville;
Wisconsin Hickory Syrup LLC, Princeton; B&E’s Trees, LLC, Viroqua; CJ’s Premium Spices,
Oconomowoc; Duck Creek Vineyard, Denmark; Sweet P's Pantry, Oconomowoc; Addicting
Pretzels; Waterford; and Pop’s Kettle Corn; Waukesha.
Founded in 1983, Something Special from
Wisconsin is a trademarked marketing program administered by DATCP. The
easily-recognizable red, white and yellow SSfW program logo
helps member companies stand out from the competition by providing a quick
and reliable way to identify genuine Wisconsin products and services at grocery
stores, retail outlets, farmers' markets and restaurants. Any Wisconsin
business, no matter how big or small, can apply for approval to use the SSfW
logo if at least 50 percent of the value of the product or service is
attributable to Wisconsin ingredients, production or processing. The program
currently has nearly 500 members.
“We are extremely pleased with the success of our SSfW
member companies at the Eats and Treats competition,” said Lois Federman, SSfW
director. “The SSfW logo brings instant recognition and credibility, and the results of
the
competition are testament to the fact that SSfW companies are producing
products of truly the highest quality and desirability.”
For more information, contact Lois Federman at 608-224-5124 or lois.federman@wisconsin.gov.
For more information about the Something Special from
Wisconsin™ program, go to https://somethingspecialwi.com.