2008 PRESS RELEASES
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November 19, 2008
VIRGINIA’S FINEST TRADEMARK PROGRAM EXPANDS, ADDING MORE CHOICES FOR HOLIDAY GIFT-GIVING AND ENTERTAINING
Contact: Marion Horsley, 804.225.3820
It’s easy to select the best of the best when you are shopping for outstanding foods, beverages and more for holiday gifts and get-togethers. Just look for the blue checkmark and red A of the Virginia’s Finest trademark. It means the item wearing this distinctive symbol has met the high quality standards set by industry and approved by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS).
And now the Virginia’s Finest collection has expanded, adding great new choices for giving, sharing and entertaining at this special time of the year, according to Todd P. Haymore, VDACS Commissioner. Haymore said, “I am pleased to announce that during 2008, VDACS approved the products of 37 additional companies for inclusion in the program.” Newly designated Virginia’s Finest products run the gamut from biscotti and brittles to Brunswick stew and barbecue sauce in addition to meats, chocolates, wines, Christmas trees, cut flowers, peanuts, cookies and salsa among others.
Haymore added, “With this expanded list of choices, your Virginia’s Finest selections are sure to please even the pickiest people on your holiday list and add a gourmet touch to every feast and festive occasion at this merry season. When only the best will do, rely on Virginia’s Finest.” To discover the exceptional Virginia’s Finest offerings, click here to explore a complete list.
When VDACS created the Virginia’s Finest Trademark Program in 1989, the goal was to identify, differentiate and promote top quality agricultural products grown, produced or processed in the Commonwealth. One hundred companies made up the initial roster. Currently, the program has grown to more than five hundred participating food, beverage and agricultural companies representing eighty industries, including processed foods, fresh produce, meats, peanuts, wines and nursery stock, to name a few.
Participation in the quality-based trademark program is voluntary and open to all Virginia agricultural producers and food processors that consistently meet specific quality standards. For additional information about Virginia’s Finest companies, or about applying for Virginia’s Finest product designation, call 1.800.284.9452 or click here.
The Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has recently approved these companies for the Virginia’s Finest Trademark Program:
Company |
Product |
Location |
Contact |
Aunt Betty’s Biscotti |
Chase City, VA |
Nancy Summa |
|
Peanuts and peanut products |
East Surry, VA |
John M. Brock, Jr. |
|
BBQ sauces and hot sauces |
Fredericksburg, VA |
Jim Sinden |
|
Peanut brittle |
Vienna, VA |
Bobbie Pontzer |
|
Biscotti Goddess |
Twelve flavors of handmade biscotti |
Richmond, VA |
Jan DeFalco |
Beef – ½, ¼ and individual cuts; lamb – individual cuts |
Piney River, VA |
John Dobbs |
|
The Brownie Brittle Company |
Brownie Brittle |
Clifton, VA |
Rebecca A. Campbell |
E. Leo Burton Tree Farm |
Christmas trees |
Floyd County, Virginia |
E. Leo Burton |
Molded chocolates, assorted barks, fruit bars, chocolate bars |
Fredericksburg, VA |
Cornelia Tax and Dan Kelch |
|
Grass/pasture-raised meats including fresh pork, lamb and beef. |
Purcellville, VA |
Dana Sacco |
|
Cinnamon Café/Original Brunswick Stew Co. |
The Original Brunswick Stew |
Lawrenceville, VA |
Mary Truman |
BBQ sauces |
Chesterfield, VA |
Lloyd Sossei |
|
Virginia wines: |
Faber, VA |
Claude M. DelFosse |
|
Cookies – gluten-free, dairy-, egg-, wheat-, peanut- free |
Norfolk, VA |
Lucy Gibney, MD |
|
The Farm at Red Hill, LLC |
Salsa; fruit habanera jams |
North Garden, VA |
Wendy Harrison |
Fauquier’s Finest Custom Meat Processing, Inc. |
Custom-slaughtered and processed meat |
Bealeton, VA |
Andy Wilfong |
Grains of Sense |
Coffee, bread, cookies |
Staunton, VA |
Tom Hayman |
A variety of sugar cookies |
Charlottesville, VA |
Karen, Hovhannes, Gohar Beaver |
|
Irish bread and biscuit mixes |
Annandale, VA |
Joanne Buto |
|
Pure milk soap handcrafted in various scents |
Middlebrook, VA |
Barbara Womack |
|
Jane’s Sweet Potato Biscuits |
Sweet potato biscuits |
Franklin, VA |
Jane R. Gibson |
Jerry’s Backyard Barbeque Sauce |
BBQ sauce |
Richmond, VA |
Jerry Robinson |
K-Stokes, Inc. |
High-end specialty gourmet sauces |
Hampton, VA |
Kenny Stokes |
Miss Bonnie's Distributing, Inc. |
Spreads: Pimento Cheese, Jalapeño Pepper Cheese |
Midlothian, VA |
Ron Adleman |
100% Organic Angus Beef – free-range |
Upperville, VA |
Michael Quick |
|
Mountain View Farm
|
Christmas trees and wreaths |
Edinburg, VA |
Steve Rhoades |
Luxurious Shea Butter soap and skincare Products |
Chesapeake, VA |
Pat and Bob Younce |
|
Salad dressing and marinades |
Charlottesville, VA |
Eileen Park |
|
R. R. Enterprise, LLC |
Reggie’s Banana Pudding Sauce |
Chesapeake, VA |
Martha J. Ross-Rodgers |
Fair Trade organic coffees and gourmet flavored coffees |
Richmond, VA |
Patricia M Smith |
|
Toffee |
Ashburn, VA |
Wendy Martin |
|
Two Spruce Farm |
Lamb cuts; lamb sausage; pelts, yarn, wool blankets |
Berryville, VA |
Lois Aylestock |
Curry powders, BBQ and jerk rubs, herbs, seasonings, spices |
Ashburn, VA |
Les Westwood |
|
Hot sauces |
Richmond, VA |
804.839.6465 |
|
Virginia wine: Galena Creek White, Cabernet Sauvignon |
Max Meadows, VA |
David Manley |
|
Wine-Ohh, LLC |
Cookies filled with wine jelly; wine jelly from Virginia wines |
Palmyra, VA |
Diane and Jim Welsh |
Zinnia Girls |
Cut flowers – zinnias, lilies, dahlias, asters, tuberroses, , allium, ageratum, celosia, etc. |
Virginia Beach, VA |
Diane Newbern, Meegan Heidt |