Traverse Bay Farms offers salsas, barbecue sauces, jams and more, the Northern Michigan brand's awards span nearly every category in competitions
Bellaire, MI (PRUnderground) August 31st, 2026
Traverse Bay Farms, the Northern Michigan specialty food company, is marking its 25th anniversary this September with a milestone few food brands ever reach: more than 38 awards earned across its entire product line, in both national and local competitions.
What sets the recognition apart isn't a single flagship product -- it's the breadth. Over 25 years, Traverse Bay Farms has taken home honors across nearly every category it offers, including its salsas, fruit jams, barbecue sauces, salad dressings, and its signature cherry juice concentrate. That's averages out to more than one award a year, every year, spread across five distinct product families rather than concentrated in one.
"A lot of companies have a single award-winning product," said Andy LaPointe, founder of Traverse Bay Farms. "What I'm proudest of is that the recognition runs the length of our shelf -- from a jar of salsa to a bottle of cherry juice concentrate for Community Award Local Best Taste. It tells me the quality is in how we craft everything, not just one hero item."
The awards have come from both national competitions and local contests, reflecting recognition from judges and the local community alike over a quarter-century of production in Northern Michigan.
To mark the anniversary, Traverse Bay Farms is celebrating throughout September at its retail stores in Bellaire and Elk Rapids, and online and ships their products nationwide for customers in all 50 states at traversebayfarms.com. A full list of the company's awards is available at Awards and Recognition Page
About Traverse Bay Farms
Founded 25 years ago in Northern Michigan, Traverse Bay Farms crafts award-winning specialty foods -- including salsas, fruit jams, barbecue sauces, salad dressings, and cherry juice concentrate for nationwide shipping. With more than 38 awards to its name across national and local competition, the company operates retail stores in Bellaire and Elk Rapids, Michigan, and ships nationwide from traversebayfarms.com
