Point Reyes, CA – Point Reyes Toma was named Outstanding Cheese/Dairy Product in the 41st sofi™ Awards competition from the Specialty Food Association and Point Reyes Bay Blue won the sofi Gold for Best New Product of the year, the ceremony’s top honor. The sofi Awards recognize excellence in specialty foods and are highly-respected industry recognition. “sofi” stands for Specialty Outstanding Food Innovation.
Point Reyes Toma and Bay Blue were two of 125 Finalists selected by a national panel of specialty food professionals from a record-setting 2,573 entries across 32 Awards categories including Outstanding Chocolate, Cheese, and Salumi. Winners were announced July 1, by internationally-acclaimed Chef Marcus Samuelsson at the Summer Fancy Food Show in New York City.
“We are overwhelmed with joy,” said Bob Giacomini, owner of Point Reyes Farmstead. “Winning two Golds is just fantastic. Our customers love Toma, so to have the industry honor what a great all-around and delicious cheese it is, feels great. And to have Bay Blue win Best New Product of the year is incredibly validating. The two years of R&D were absolutely worth it –we hit a homerun with this cheese.” Giacomini, together with his wife and four daughters, founded the company on their family dairy farm in 2000. Original Blue Cheese (2011 sofi Gold winner) is the flagship product, Toma (released in 2010) is a buttery flavored table cheese, and brand new Bay Blue is Stilton-like, –a mild blue with a gorgeous natural rind and a salted-caramel finish.
“With the most entries ever, the winners should be especially proud,” says Specialty Food Association President Ann Daw. “Their foods and beverages are wonderful examples of the craft, care and joy specialty food makers bring to their work.” Learn more about the 2013 sofi Awards at specialtyfood.com/sofi.
The Point Reyes Farmstead product line is available nationally at independent cheese shops and specialty chains as well as at www.pointreyescheese.com.
Source: Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Co.
