The submission period is now open for the 2024 Good Food Awards, which is heading into its 14th year of celebrating sustainably and locally produced specialty food products in the United States.
Alongside categories such as candy, charcuterie, pickles, cheese and spirits, coffee remains distinct in that its primary ingredient — green coffee — is largely produced overseas. Thus, unlike other food categories in the awards program, the coffee program prizes diversity in coffee origins as well as factors such as roasted coffee quality and sustainable sourcing initiatives.
Seventeen different roasted coffees from 16 different U.S. roasters took home Good Food Awards in 2023. Coffee roasters are limited to three awards submissions. A volunteer-led GFA coffee committee is composed of approximately two dozen expert coffee tasters from throughout the U.S.
In addition to prizing “exemplary flavor — sweet, clean, well developed body, balanced acidity and phenomenal aromatics,” the coffee category standards call for submissions that can be traced back to the farm or cooperative level, reflect prices that meet or exceed Fairtrade premiums, and reflect environmental and social sustainability commitments from producers and roasters. See the complete list of coffee category standards.
The GFA entry fee has been upped from $82 to $105 this year. It includes all logistics costs associated with the final blind tasting rounds led by expert tasters. For an additional $15, roasters can receive judges’ feedback.
The entry period is open through June 30.
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