Hot with the judges: Sunderland sriracha maker wins Good Food Award in national competition

The Recorder, February 7, 2017, By Andy Castillo.

SUNDERLAND — Kitchen Garden Farm’s Sriracha has received national recognition by winning an award from the nonprofit Good Food Foundation.

The 50-acre farm’s chili sauce took home a Good Food Award in the pantry category at the organization’s 2017 Good Food Awards, held last month in California.

According to a press statement, the selection was made “in a blind tasting of the 2,059 entries from nearly every state, and passed a rigorous vetting to confirm they met specific standards around environmentally sound agriculture practices, good animal husbandry, sourcing transparency, and responsible relationships throughout the supply chain.”

Other categories include coffee, cheese, chocolate, pickles, beer and spirits.

“It’s such an honor to be included among this outstanding group of food producers around the country that meet extremely rigorous standards for quality and sustainability,” said Caroline Pam, who co-owns the farm along with Tim Wilcox.
The local farm’s Sriracha, which comes in original, extra-hot habanero, and super-hot ghost pepper, is handmade at the Western Mass. Food Processing Center in Greenfield. As described in the statement, it’s a “naturally fermented chili sauce that is certified organic and made exclusively with peppers grown on the farm in Sunderland.”

“All three varieties are sold along with the farm’s line of salsas in select Whole Foods Markets, co-ops, and natural food stores around the Northeast, plus specialty stores in NYC, Boston, and the Berkshires. The farm’s products can also be ordered on the farm’s website, www.kitchengardenfarm.com,” the statement adds.

In the fall, Kitchen Garden Farm hosts the Chilifest, “a weekend devoted to celebrating all things spicy.”

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