CAES Newswire

 College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences UGA Cooperative Extension
Menu
Published on 03/10/15

A&A Alta Cucina Italia balsamic vinegar wins 2015 Flavor of Georgia contest

By Merritt Melancon

Adriana Coppola, a native Italian now living in Johns Creek, won the grand prize in the University of Georgia’s 2015 Flavor of Georgia Food Product Contest with her A&A Alta Cucina Italia Balsamico al Mirtillo, a blueberry balsamic vinegar reduction.

The annual contest, conducted by the UGA Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development, is a chance for food businesses to showcase their new products.

Coppola launched Alta Cucina, her line of authentic Italian gourmet products, to celebrate family traditions and love for fresh ingredients, which she learned from her parents, she said.

The reduction was one of 30 Georgia products selected as finalists from the more than 100 entries from across the state submitted to the 2015 Flavor of Georgia Food Product Contest.

In addition to the grand prize, A&A Alta Cucina Italia Balsamico al Mirtillo also received the category award for best salsa, chutney or condiment.

Georgia Department of Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black and College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Dean and Director J. Scott Angle announced the category and grand prize winners as part of Georgia Agriculture Awareness Day at the Georgia Freight Depot in Atlanta.

“Though hundreds of food products have come through the Flavor of Georgia contest since 2007, Georgians just keep coming up with a new ‘crop’ of excellent entries each year,” said Sharon P. Kane, Flavor of Georgia contest coordinator.

In addition to the grand prize, judges awarded prizes in each food product category. A people’s choice award was given based on votes cast during a public tasting Tuesday morning.

The awards are listed below by prize name, product name, company name, company representative and town.

  • People’s Choice Award: Wisham Jellies, Cranberry Pepper Jelly, Eric Wisham, Tifton.
  • Barbecue Sauces: Causey’s Hot BBQ Sauce, Causey Foods Inc., Wynn Causey Bakke, Smyrna. (The sauce was created in Vienna where the Causeys still operate a restaurant.)
  • Beverages: Paulk’s Pride 100% Purple Muscadine Juice, Muscadine Products Corporation, Erin Boettger, Wray.
  • Confections: Georgia Peach Cookies, Byrd Cookie Company, Geoff Repella, Savannah.
  • Dairy Products: Get Back Jack Pimento Cheese, Proper Pepper, Deanna Bibb, Sandersville.
  • Jams and Jellies: Strawberry Lavender Jam, Fairywood Thicket Farm, Kim and John Conner, Fairburn.
  • Marinades and Sauces: Tybee Island Coastal Blend, The Salt Table, Carol and Dave Legasse, Pooler.
  • Meat and Seafood: Grassfed New York Strip Steak, Hunter Cattle Company, Del Ferguson, Brooklet.
  • Miscellaneous: Georgia Wildflower Honeycomb, Zeigler’s Honey Company, Robert Edmondson, Stockton.
  • Salsas, Chutneys and Condiments: Balsamico Al Mirtillo, A&A Alta Cucina Italia, Adriana Coppola, Johns Creek.
  • Snack Foods: Savannah Snaps, Verdant Kitchen, Ross Harding, Savannah.

Food industry experts, including grocery buyers, food service personnel and agricultural marketing executives, rated Alta Cucina Italia’s Balsamico al Mirtillo and the other products based on innovation, use of Georgia theme, market potential and flavor.

Showcase events like the 2015 Flavor of Georgia competition help entrepreneurs spread the word about their products. Many have landed spots in regional and national grocery chains like Whole Foods, Fresh Market, Earth Fare, Kroger and Harvey’s.

Winners received membership in the state department of agriculture’s Georgia Grown program. All winners and finalists earn the right to have their products stamped with the 2015 Flavor of Georgia logo and gain exposure to grocery buyers and food industry professionals who judge the final round of the contest.

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

More information about this year’s contest can be found at www.flavorofga.com or on Twitter @Flavor_of_GA. For more photos of this year’s Flavor of Georgia contest, see http://www.flickr.com/photos/ugacommunications/sets.

Merritt Melancon is a public relations manager with UGA's Terry College of Business and previously served as a public relations coordinator for the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and UGA Extension.

Authors:
Merritt Melancon
Experts/Sources:
Sharon P Kane
Adriana Coppola, a native Italian now living in Johns Creek, won the grand prize in the University of Georgia's 2015 Flavor of Georgia Food Product Contest with her A&A Alta Cucina Italia Balsamico al Mirtillo, a blueberry balsamic vinegar reduction.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Download Image
Exterior of the Administration Building front entrance on a blue sky spring day. CAES News
Newest round of Presidential Interdisciplinary Seed Grants awarded 03/05/24 Olivia Randall
Ten university-wide projects devoted to advancing interdisciplinary research across multiple application areas have been awarded Presidential Interdisciplinary Seed Grants as part of the 2023 cohort. The Presidential Interdisciplinary Seed Grant Program was launched in 2017 and offered again in 2019 and 2021 through a partnership between the offices of Research and Public Service and Outreach. These 10 awards were chosen from 70 proposals and reflect a commitment of $1 million from UGA President Jere W. Morehead.
Phyllicia Thomas CAES News
CAES alumnus overcomes catastrophic injuries to champion environmental justice 02/22/24 Maria M. Lameiras
When Phyllicia Thomas walked across the stage to accept her degree in environmental law in December 2023, it was the culmination of two journeys — one toward a dream set upon as a high school student and the other an unforeseen detour she navigated with determination and the steadfast support of her family. Thomas embarked on the second journey just over a year after graduating from the University of Georgia’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences with a bachelor’s degree in environmental economics and management in May 2019.
UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences researchers Sharon Kane and Becky Griffin put together a map displaying the economic value of pollinators to spread awareness about the impact of pollinators and the necessity of continued conservation. (Photo by Chamberlain Smith/UGA) CAES News
Mapping the economic value of pollinators 02/07/24 Sameeka Prabath Rajamani
From beetles to butterflies, pollinators are a beautiful and integral part of nature. However, these tiny creatures may be more economically important to agricultural and ecological systems than previously thought. In a recent project by the Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development at the University of Georgia, economist Sharon Kane and plant protection expert Becky Griffin have put together a powerful map displaying the economic importance of pollinators across Georgia.  
The Arch seen through the columns of the Holmes Hunter Building. (Photo by Dorothy Kozkowski/UGA) CAES News
UGA economic impact hits new high of $8.1 billion 02/02/24 Mike Wooten
The University of Georgia’s economic impact on the state surged to a record $8.1 billion in 2023, according to a new study that measures the value of the university’s teaching, research and public service. Growth in the number of alumni at the undergraduate and graduate levels, a thriving research and innovation ecosystem and award-winning public service and outreach programs all contributed to the record level of impact by Georgia’s flagship institution of higher education.
UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Dean Nick Place, UGA Extension Agent Black Carter, Georgia Farmer of the Year Bruce Redmond, and Assistant Dean for Extension Mark McCann gather after Redmond was awarded. (Photo by Maggie Wooten) CAES News
UGA Extension announces 2024 Georgia Farmer of the Year 01/26/24 Maria M. Lameiras
Building on the foundation set by his father in Effingham County, Shiloh Farms owner Bruce Redmond has expanded his operation through innovation and dedication, earning him the honor of 2024 Georgia Farmer of the Year, presented at the 2024 Georgia Ag Forecast in Tifton, Georgia, on Jan. 26. Nominated by Blake Carter, the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources agent for Effingham County, Redmond assumed full ownership and operation of Shiloh Farms in 2018.
Illustrated by Katie Walker and Megan McCoy CAES News
CAES associate dean of academic affairs retires after 47 years of student advocacy 01/25/24 Claire Sanders Kinnard
There are more than 20,000 living alumni of the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. Among them are U.S. representatives, renowned environmental scientists, governors, leaders of national corporations, and a host of successful agricultural producers, among leaders in many other professions. Despite the differences in their college experiences and career trajectories, for many of these alumni, there is one unifying individual in their memories of CAES: Josef Broder.