Are you super-passionate (like I am) about supporting local brands? Well, I’ve got three incredible new products for you to add to your shopping list! They are the winners of Acme Fresh Market’s “Buckeye’s Best” competition. Acme makes it super-easy for me to shop local every day as their shelves are stocked with literally hundreds of products from local businesses and farms.
Note: Thank you to Acme Fresh Market for sponsoring this post. As always, the opinions expressed in this article are 100% my own. For Natty Gal’s full disclosure policy, click here.
You may recall from this post that Acme celebrated its 130th anniversary in April with a couple of big contests and events. One of those was the “Buckeye’s Best” competition, a unique opportunity for Ohio food entrepreneurs to win a cash prize and to have their product featured on Acme store shelves.
Acme received over 80 entries and earlier this week I was lucky enough to attend a press conference to meet the winners and sample their products!
Grand Prize Winner ($5,000): Brian, Founder of 5-0 Buffalo Dips; Mentor, OH
Brian, a retired local police officer, was famous at tailgate parties for his creamy and spicy Buffalo chicken dip. A friend commented that “it’s so good, it should be illegal” and just like that, 5-0 Buffalo Dips was born!
The spicy Buffalo flavor combined with a sultry creaminess makes the 5-0 Buffalo Dip a perfect taste-treat! What’s more, it’s gluten-free, keto-friendly, and will keep in your fridge for 90 days. Although I promise, you won’t be able to leave it there that long!
Serve this dip hot or cold and you’ll be the hit of any tailgate or party! While chatting with James, I learned the company has put its winnings into product development. Two products they’re hoping to release soon are a Chicken Bacon Ranch dip and a Blue Line Southwestern Veggie dip. Yum, and yum!
“We entered the Buckeye’s Best competition because it was on our radar to be in Acme stores…they’re our kind of grocer!”
James, Minority Partner, 5-0 Buffalo Dips
First Prize Winner ($2,500): Nicole, Founder of Health Junkie; Northfield, OH
Nicole is a busy mom that works hard to keep her family healthy with natural immunity boosters. When she realized that all the elderberry products on the market were loaded with sugar, she decided to develop her own. Health Junkie Elderberry Syrup comes in three amazing flavors: Spicy Cinnamon, Bold Ginger, and Cheeky Tart Cherry. You can use them in a variety of ways:
- with seltzer or juice as a refreshing mocktail,
- mixed with ice cream, pancake or waffle mix,
- blended with balsamic as a vinaigrette for salad,
- and so many more!
First Prize Winner ($2,500): Nana, Founder of Ghana Supreme Sauce; Mayfield Hts., OH
Nana moved from Ghana to attend university in Ohio (Hiram College) but found himself missing his mom, Margaret’s cooking. He fine-tuned a favorite recipe of hers to create Ghana Supreme Sauce. It comes in two spices levels, mild and medium, and can be used as a marinade, finishing sauce, or even a dip!
The family recipe that Nana based Ghana Supreme Sauce on is one that has been passed down over six generations! We sampled a dish of chicken thighs and jasmine rice with Nana’s Ghana Supreme Sauce. It was amazingly aromatic, flavorful, and temporarily transported me to exotic West Africa!
Be sure to check these new products out the next time you shop at an Acme Fresh Market store.
Supporting local farmers and families for over 130 years!
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