Dairy’s 2022 sofi Award winners
The Specialty Food Association’s sofi Awards, which celebrate innovation and great taste, honored a number of dairy companies and their products in 2022.
The winners were selected through a blind tasting process managed by Rutgers Food Innovation Center.
Stracciatella Panna di Latte
Lioni Latticini Inc.’s Stracciatella Panna di Latte received the best new product award in the cheese from cow milk category. The fresh cheese is crafted from delicate shreds of pasta filata mozzarella and Italian cream. It can be used as a spread or as a topping on pizzas, salads and pastas.
Artikaas’ Pareggio
The Dutch Cheese Makers Corp. took home gold in the cheese from cow milk category for Artikaas’ Pareggio, which is made with Parmesan cultures but aged for five months as Gouda. The Italian-style cheese slices, shreds, grates and melts.
Jeni's Ice Cream Maple Soaked Pancakes
Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams picked up a best new frozen dessert sofi for its Maple Soaked Pancakes flavor. The winning ice cream swirls together two flavors, mixing with a Vermont maple syrup ice cream with a salted butter ice cream. Plus, it combines those with pieces of fluffy pancakes.
Clementine's Maple Bourbon Pecan
Clementine's Ice Cream Co. earned a gold sofi in frozen desserts for its Maple Bourbon Pecan. The ingredients in the winning ice cream include bourbon infused into the company’s Madagascar Vanilla, with maple syrup, sea salt, vanilla and salted and candied Missouri pecans.
Cello Copper Kettle Cheese, Lemon Ginger Cherries, Praline Pecans
Schuman Cheese won a gold sofi in the appetizers and snacks category for its Cello Copper Kettle Cheese, Lemon Ginger Cherries, Praline Pecans packs. The portable packaged snacks pair Cello’s cheese with cherries and pecans for a salty and sweet blend.
Collection’s SALCIS MonnaLisa Foglie di Noce
In the non-cow milk and mixed milk category, the Rogers Collection’s SALCIS MonnaLisa Foglie di Noce took the top spot. Aged in Siena, Italy, with walnut leaves that protect the cheese and let it age slowly, the pecorino is made with sheep milk.
Laura Chenel Everything Bagel Fresh Goat Cheese
The best new product sofi award in the non-cow milk and mixed milk category went to Laura Chenel's Everything Bagel Fresh Goat Cheese. Described as tangy, fresh and citrusy with a higher moisture than classic logs, the goat cheese includes classic everything bagel seasonings such as sesame, garlic, poppy seed and onion.
Vermont Creamery Sea Salt Cultured Butter
In the other dairy category the gold sofi went to Vermont Creamery’s Sea Salt Cultured Butter. Churned to 86% butterfat, the cultured and creamy butter can be used in pie crusts and cookies for what the company described as “superior elasticity and flakiness.”
Fireworks Chefs Butter Basil Pesto
Pyrotechnic Foods LLC’s Fireworks Chefs Butter Basil Pesto won best new product in the other dairy category. The butter is comprised of fresh basil, garlic and cheese and is recommended for adding flavor to pasta, fish, eggs, toast, chicken and pork.
Yips Yogurt Chips
The gold sofi in the yogurt and kefir category went to Yips Yogurt Chips. An on-the-go version of Greek yogurt in chip form, the snacks don’t need to be refrigerated. Yips’ chips are freeze dried, locking in nutrients and giving them a crunch.