{"id":277603,"date":"2026-04-20T23:30:11","date_gmt":"2026-04-20T23:30:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/277603\/"},"modified":"2026-04-20T23:30:11","modified_gmt":"2026-04-20T23:30:11","slug":"4-more-sacramento-producers-named-good-food-awards-finalists","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/277603\/","title":{"rendered":"4 more Sacramento producers named Good Food Awards finalists"},"content":{"rendered":"

The sustainability-focused Good Food Foundation<\/a> announced its last groups of finalists for this year\u2019s Good Food Awards, and multiple capital region producers received new and repeat honors.<\/p>\n

After announcing finalists in most categories in January<\/a>, the Good Food Awards shared its list of 26 nominees in the grains and oils categories on Friday. Four producers from the Sacramento region, spanning from Capay Valley to Lodi, were named finalists in this year\u2019s awards.<\/p>\n

Oil mills Calivirgin<\/a> and La Tourangelle<\/a>, Capay-based Grumpy Goats Farm<\/a> were honored once again, while pasta company Big River Provisions \u2014 best known in Sacramento as Pasta Therapy<\/a> \u2014 is up for its first award.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what to know about these Sacramento-area Good Food Award nominees.<\/p>\n

What are the Good Food Awards?<\/p>\n

The annual Good Food Awards<\/a>, held by the Good Food Foundation, honors the country\u2019s sustainable food producers.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Good Food Awards recognizes that truly good food \u2014 the kind that brings people together and builds strong, healthy communities \u2014 contains all of these ingredients,\u201d the foundation said on its website.<\/p>\n

Producers are held to a strict standard regarding food sourcing transparency and ethics and thoughtful, responsible labor practices. Companies may nominate their own products among 18 food-specific categories<\/a> \u2014 ensuring creamed honey won\u2019t face-off with a rolled oats granola bar \u2014 each with their own standards.<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s competition is the Good Food Awards\u2019 16th installment, returning to its usual blind tasting format after holding a special previous-winners-only edition<\/a> for its 15th anniversary in 2025.<\/p>\n

Winners for all 18 categories will be announced on June 28, according to the Good Food Foundation.<\/p>\n

Artisan oils up for awards yet again<\/p>\n

Three companies specializing in high-quality oils could earn more Good Food Awards this year after becoming mainstays on the foundation\u2019s list of nominees and winners in previous years.<\/p>\n

Woodland-based La Tourangelle<\/a> may receive another accolade for its signature slow-roasted California Walnut Oil.<\/a> As one of the company\u2019s flagship products, it last won a Good Food Award in 2015.<\/p>\n

However, the business has a total of five Good Food Awards, with previous honors going to the walnut oil, a hazelnut oil and a pistachio oil.<\/p>\n

La Tourangelle CEO Matthieu Kohlmeyer said in a statement that he and his team were \u201cproud to see our California Walnut Oil be (a) finalist for a Good Food Award this year!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWalnut Oil is a wonderful oil that we make in Woodland,\u201d Kohlmeyer said in his statement. \u201cUnlike seed oils, the entire process is chemical free and all natural.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"David David Pringle, director of engineering, holds walnut oil stock at La Tourangelle Artisan Oil Mill in Woodland on Monday, July 7, 2025. La Tourangelle\u2019s roasted walnut oil was named a finalist in the 2026 Good Food Awards. IRENE ADELINE MILANEZ imilanez@sacbee.com <\/p>\n

Just a short hop away from La Tourangelle\u2019s Woodland oil mill, Grumpy Goats Farm in Capay is pressing various award-winning olive oils, three of which are competing for a Good Food Award this year.<\/p>\n

The business\u2019s Spanish Picual<\/a> and Hojiblanca<\/a> olive oils, as well as its Italian Nocellara del Belice<\/a> olive oil, are in the running among the oil contenders. Grumpy Goats\u2019s Picual and Hojiblanca oils already have Good Food Awards from 2017 and 2021, respectively, while its Coratina and Italian Blend oils won Good Food Awards in 2019 and 2020.<\/p>\n

According to the Olive Oil Times, an industry publication, Grumpy Goats is ranked the ninth-best olive oil producer in the world<\/a> and the fourth-best in the United States.<\/p>\n

Further south in Lodi, Calivirgin is seeking its 11th Good Food Award for its Calabrian chili olive oil.<\/p>\n

In previous years, Calivirgin was honored by the Good Food Foundation for its Serrano pepper olive oil, jalape\u00f1o and garlic jalape\u00f1o olive oils, basil olive oil and lime olive oil.<\/p>\n

Pasta Therapy seeks first Good Food accolade<\/p>\n

The Sacramento-based Pasta Therapy, a Midtown Farmers Market favorite run by chef Jason Azevedo, has three of its \u201cemotional support pasta\u201d products in the running this year.<\/p>\n

Pasta Therapy\u2019s fusilli<\/a>, campanelle<\/a> and radiatori pasta shapes could earn the business its first-ever Good Food Awards in June.<\/p>\n

On social media, Azevedo shared his process of going through the Good Food Awards application process. He shared updates as he prepared his submission, waited patiently as judges went through nationwide applications and finally received the exciting news that his pastas were named finalists.<\/p>\n

In an Instagram post on Friday, Azevedo said he was \u201ctruly honored and grateful for this recognition.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cPasta Therapy is something special to me,\u201d Azevedo wrote on Instagram. \u201cIt is more than a business, more than pasta. Every day I am allowing my self to heal and grow.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Chef Chef Jason Azevedo of Pasta Therapy sells his pastas and sauces at a pop-up at Land Park’s Superette Market on Nov. 23, 2025. Three of the Sacramento pasta company\u2019s products were named finalists for the 2026 Good Food Awards. Sean Timberlake stimberlake@sacbee.com What other California oils and grains producers were nominated for the Good Food Awards?<\/p>\n

Out of 11 grains producers and 15 oil producers who could win Good Food Awards this year, 15 are from California \u2014 with the vast majority in the oils category.<\/p>\n

California-based grains finalists:California-based oils finalists:<\/p>\n

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\n \"Profile
\n <\/a><\/p>\n

Camila Pedrosa<\/a><\/p>\n

The Sacramento Bee<\/p>\n

Camila Pedrosa is a service journalism reporter at The Sacramento Bee. She previously worked as a summer reporting intern for The Bee and reported in Phoenix and Washington, D.C. She graduated from Arizona State University with a master\u2019s degree in mass communication.\n <\/p>\n