Three Maine food businesses have won a coveted sofi award from the Specialty Food Association, an honor that brings national attention to smaller brands that are looking to connect with food buyers and find a wider audience for their products.

It’s like the Oscars for barbecue sauce and strawberry jam. The award, a golden chef holding a cloche-covered plate, even looks like an Oscar.

Brunswick-based Gelato Fiasco, which has a shop in Portland’s Old Port, won a silver sofi in the ice cream, gelato and frozen treat category for its Big ‘Ole Peanut Butter gelato, which the company says is made with “a salted creamy peanut butter base, a rippled peanut butter swirl, and chopped chocolate peanut butter cups.”

Maine Crisp Co. in Waterville, which makes a line of crackers for pairing with cheese, fruit and jams, won a bronze sofi in the cracker category for its cranberry almond crisps. The crisps, made with (gluten-free) buckwheat flour, also come in blueberry walnut and cinnamon maple flavors.

Grandy Oats, based in Hiram, won a New Product award in the granola and cereal category for its Coffee Crunch Coconola, a grain-free, coconut-based organic granola made with Wicked Joe coffee and a blend of hazelnuts, pumpkin seeds and pecans.

Winners in each of the 39 product categories were chosen by more than 50 judges in blind tastings.

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