Virginia Food and Beverage Expo Names Best New Products

Three products were hailed as the best at the Virginia Food and Beverage Expo in Richmond, Va., on March 26.

The event, sponsored by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, connects buyers representing grocery stores, restaurants, gift shops and specialty stores with Virginia specialty food and beverage products.

The Expo takes place every two years to promote Virginia products and advance economic development within Virginia. 

Virginia’s First Lady Dorothy McAuliffe and Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Todd Haymore announced the Best New Product Awards during a ceremony at the Expo. This year, there were 63 entries in three categories: Best New Food, Best New Beverage and Best Product Overall.

Best Product Overall went to Ashburn Sauce Co. of Virginia Beach for its Crabby Mary Bloody Mary Mix. The Best New Food winner was The Letner Co. of Virginia Beach for its Mild Molina Salsa. The Best New Beverage was given to Blue Crab Bay Co. of Melfa for its Jalapeno-Infused Margarita Mixer.

The panel of judges included food writers, reporters and a chef who evaluated the entries on originality, taste and aroma; creative packaging; visual appeal; and presentation. 

The show featured more than 140 exhibitors and about 1,600 buyers. At the end of the day, Expo exhibitors had the opportunity to donate leftover samples to The Healing Place in Richmond, which is part of Caritas, a nonprofit organization that provides shelter to the homeless and a long-term residential recovery program for chemically dependent individuals.

The next Virginia Food and Beverage Expo will take place in 2016.