Athens Conference Office: Events & Registration

Flavor of Georgia 2012

The Flavor of Georgia food product contest is an annual celebration of all the flavors Georgia has to offer. Market-ready prototypes or commercially available food products from across the state are judged and critiqued by a panel of food experts.

The Flavor of Georgia contest casts the spotlight on delicious, original food from right here at home. Unusual foods (like a catfish burger), unique sauces (try blueberry salsa) and traditional southern foods (anything peach or pecan), get ready for the competition! Categories include barbecue and hot sauces, confections, dairy products, meat products, snack foods, jams, jellies and sauces. Entries are judged based on flavor, best use of Georgian ingredients, Georgia theme, unique or innovative qualities, commercial appeal and originality.

Final judging was held on March 12-13, 2012, at the Georgia Freight Depot in Atlanta during the Governor's annual ag awareness week.

2012 Winners

Grand Champion: High Road Craft Ice Cream, of Atlanta, GA

Other category winners were:

• Confections – Richard Byne, of Byne Blueberry Farm of Waynesboro, won with his Byne Blueberries Dark Chocolate
• Meats - Debra McFadden-Bryant, of GeeChee Girl Foods of Albany, won with her Seafood Gumbo.
• Jams, jellies and sauces – Lauri Jo Bennett, of Lauri Jo’s Southern Style Canning in Norman Park, won with her Muscadine Pepper Jelly 
• Barbecue and hot sauces – Griffin Bufkin, of Southern Soul Barbecue in St. Simons Island, won with Sweet Georgia Soul Signature BBQ Sauce.  
• Other products – Mercier Orchards, of Blue Ridge, won with the company’s Sparkling Apple Cider.
• Snack foods – Diane Pfeifer, of Strawberry Patch and Grits Bits in Atlanta, won with her Grits Bits Vidalia Onion Baked Cheese Snacks
• People’s Choice – Cindy Fulghum, of Three Generations of Georgia in Dewy Rose, won the People’s Choice Award with her Three Generations of Georgia Chicken Log.

A full Product Entry List may be viewed on the Past Events page.

2012 Photos

Photography from the event may also be viewed on the past events page under photos.

2012 Sponsors

The Flavor of Georgia food product contest is sponsored by the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development in partnership with the Center of Innovation for Agribusiness, Office of Governor Nathan Deal, Walton EMC, the Georgia Department of Agriculture, the Georgia Agribusiness Council and the UGA Department of Food Science and Technology.