Harry and Jaime Foster, owners of Georgia Grinders Premium Nut Butters, walked away with the grand prize from the University of Georgia's 2017 Flavor of Georgia Contest for their Georgia Grinders Pecan Butter.

The annual contest, conducted by the UGA Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development, is a chance for food businesses to showcase their new products.

A team of food industry experts and grocery buyers chose Georgia Grinders Pecan Butter as the best of 33 finalists. They rated the products on qualities including innovation, use of Georgia theme, market potential and flavor.

In addition to the grand prize, Georgia Grinders also won first place in the Miscellaneous Products category.

Gov. Nathan Deal, Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black and UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Dean and Director Sam Pardue congratulated the category and grand prize winners at UGA's Flavor of Georgia Food Product Contest's grand finale Tuesday at the Georgia Freight Depot in Atlanta.

"We had 117 products submitted this year and some of the toughest competition we've seen in the contest's 11-year history. These 33 products represented are truly the best of the best," said Sharon P. Kane, Flavor of Georgia contest coordinator. "The legacy of excellence and camaraderie that our Flavor of Georgia finalists and winners have achieved continues to be remarkable."

For more information about Georgia Grinders Pecan Butter visit www.naturalmond.com.

The winners are listed below by prize name, product name, company name and town.

—Grand Prize Winner: Georgia Grinders Pecan Butter, Georgia Grinders Premium Nut Butters, Chamblee

—People's Choice Award: Carroll's Vidalia Onion and Cheese Smoked Sausage, Carroll's Sausage & Meats Inc., Ashburn- Barbecue Sauces: Wicked Que Georgia Vinegar Sauce, Neptune Industries Inc., Watkinsville

—Beverages: Worryfree Tea, Biron Herbal Teas, Macon

—Condiments and Sauces: Midland Ghost White Pepper Sauce, 4Saucerers,
Columbus

—Confections: Chocolate Covered Fried Peanut Cluster, West Foods Inc., Edison

—Dairy or Related Products: Revolution Gelato Chocolate Fantasy, Revolution
Gelato LLC, Atlanta

—Honey and Related Products: Honey Pecan Crunch, Hahira Honey House, Stockton

—Jams and Jellies: Satsuma Orange Pepper Marmalade, Fairywood Thicket Farm, Fairburn

—Meat and Seafood: Carroll's Vidalia Onion and Cheese Smoked Sausage,
Carroll's Sausage & Meats Inc., Ashburn

—Miscellaneous: Georgia Grinders Pecan Butter, Georgia Grinders Premium Nut
Butters, Chamblee

—Sauces and Seasonings: Campfire Salt, Beautiful Briny Sea, Atlanta

—Snack Foods: Toasted Sriracha Pecans, Goodson Pecans LLC, Leesburg

Showcase events like the 2017 Flavor of Georgia competition help entrepreneurs spread the word about their products. Many participants have landed spots in regional and national grocery chains like Whole Foods, Ingles, Fresh Market, Earth Fare, Kroger and Harvey's.

Category winners received an award and membership in the state Department of Agriculture's Georgia Grown program, statewide notoriety and bragging rights. All winners and finalists earn the right to have their products stamped with the 2017 Flavor of Georgia logo. They also gain exposure to grocery buyers and food industry professionals who judge the final round of the contest.