NCS Receives 2022 Good Food Award
Recognized for Exceptional Flavor and Social Responsibility
North Country Smokehouse was named 2022 Good Food Award winner by the Good Food Foundation, recognized for handcrafting sugar-free organic bacon with exceptional flavor and a deep commitment to building a more sustainable and just food system. More than 2,000 specialty food and beverage producers submitted unique products for a blind tasting. A total of 244 exceptional crafters across 18 categories, from 39 states and Washington, D.C., were proudly recognized by the foundation.
Award recipients were vetted and judged on further sustainability, social responsibility, taste, authenticity, and their dedication towards humanizing and reforming American Food culture. The winners were recognized by Alice Waters and René Redzepi, legendary chef of Noma, with a congratulatory video where Redzepi noted: “I believe it is our collective efforts that can turn the tide and ensure our shared earth will survive. You are the champions of the future, and you are leading the way.”
Good Food Award recipients, many of whose products are not typically available in the Bay Area – were prominently displayed on shelf at the Good Food Shop in San Francisco’s Ferry Building (within The Epicurean Trader storefront) for two-full weeks this past January. The Good Food Foundation Awards Ceremony takes place on Friday, March 4, and the event is preceded by the San Francisco Good Food Mercantile on Thursday, March 3, 2022.
Learn more about the Good Food Foundation and view the complete list of 2022 Good Food Award winners here.
North Country Smokehouse is Mass Question 3 Compliant
Smokehouse Style Ramen – North Country Smokehouse
Sugar Free Bacon Burrito – North Country Smokehouse
NEW Items: Organic Ham Steak & Petit Ham
North Country Smokehouse, introduced two new organic hams to their retail lineup; Applewood Smoked Ham Steak and Petit Ham.
“Consumers want convenient, modestly portioned pack sizes and that’s hard to find in the ham category,” says Mike Kelly, VP of Business Development and National Sales. “Couple that with the limited options available in the non-GMO organic and certified humane protein category and it was clear to us, we had a winner.” They were right. The new organic Applewood Smoked Ham Steak launched in six regions of Whole Foods Market in September and the Petit Ham was featured as a limited-time holiday offering, both products performed incredibly well. The results are in, shoppers want more organic options to choose from without having to bite off more than they can chew.
The organic ham steak is sold in a 6oz pack and serves two. The organic Petit Ham is a little over a pound and serves four. The hams are fully cooked, with the signature smokehouse flavor of which North Country is well noted. The pork is maple-cured using syrup from a nearby sugar maker. The hams are smoked low & slow over embers of choice hardwoods. “People often say our ham is the best they’ve ever eaten, and they want to enjoy it year-round but find purchasing a whole or half ham to be too much. They might have a small family or adult children, and they don’t want to be wasteful, especially organic shoppers who tend to be more conscious about their impact on the land and environment when making buying decisions.” says Kelly. These new products certainly check all the boxes, they are sized just right, easy to prepare, and humanely raised. In fact, all North Country’s certified humane and organic offerings are free from antibiotics, added growth hormones, chemical nitrates, and nitrites. The pork is sourced from their very own, vertically integrated farms where the animals are vegetarian fed with no animal by-products. The organic recipes go a step further and are produced using 100% non-GMO ingredients.
The expansion of the company’s organic lineup marks yet another milestone in the strategic mission to be recognized as the North American leader for certified humane and organic smoked meats. Today, their products are offered through discerning distributors nationwide and can be found in upscale retailers like Whole Foods Market, Hannaford, Stop & Shop, Shaw’s, Market Basket, Big Y, Target, Save Mart, Harris Teeter, Earthfare, Gelson’s, and Bristol Farms.
