NEW YORK — Blood orange and sea salt are two ingredients common among this year’s 33 “Sofi” award winners.

The Sofi (specialty outstanding food innovation) awards honor food and beverages in 33 categories considered a cut above the rest. Nearly 2,000 products were entered into the competition, sponsored by the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade.

A national panel of specialty food experts narrowed the field to 128 Silver Finalists during five days of judging at NASFT’s offices in New York City this spring. More than 550 buyers at the Summer Fancy Food Show cast ballots on Monday to select the final 33 gold winners.

Blood orange is an ingredient in three of the winners: Blood Orange Marmalade; Caramelized Onion and Blood Orange Confit; and Fresh Squeezed Blood Orange Juice. The blood orange is a variety of orange with crimson, blood-colored flesh.

Another common ingredient among the winners was sea salt. A dark chocolate with French grey sea salt, and a caramel sea salt brownie received Sofi honors.

Renowned chef Ming Tsai announced the winners at a red-carpet event Monday night here at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, where NASFT’s Fancy Food Show was held.

“A Sofi award ensures that a company’s product will be noticed by discerning buyers of specialty food and beverages across the country and around the world,” said Ann Daw, NASFT president. “This year’s winners show that innovation and excellence continue to thrive in our industry.”

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