Last Friday, the Journalism Committee of the James Beard Foundation Awards decided for the first time to present a special award for Publication of the Year. This brand-new award recognizes a publication—in magazine, newspaper, or digital format—that demonstrates fresh directions, worthy ambitions, and a forward-looking approach to food journalism. This year, Edible Communities – the whole lot of us – received this truly momentous nod of appreciation.
There are some in the food and media business who think that Edible Communities is run by a select group of people. That may be because the founders of Edible Communities – Tracey Ryder and Carole Topalian – have their offices in Santa Fe, New Mexico. But in fact, Edible Communities is made up of more than 70 individual owner-publishers (and owner-publisher-couples) who invest a lot of money, time, sweat, tears and pure passion to produce incredibly high-quality, beautiful publications with a single unifying mission: to promote local foods and community business. Here in New York state alone, there are 7 of us!
And here at Edible Queens, there’s a small army of writers, bloggers, photographers, sales reps and designers working during the day, at night and on weekends (often in their spare time) to bring you the magazines, newsletters and blogs that keep you informed of our local food scene. For most of us, it’s a labor of love; a devotion to craft and curiosity; and a passion for place – the place being the most diverse city in the world that we are all so lucky to live and eat in. We are, each and every one of us, winners today. And so, congrats to us, all of us!!
The Winner’s Circle:
Doug Adrianson, Copy Editor
Joe DiStefano, Editor, World’s Fare
Paul Hayes, Associate Publisher
Jesse Hirsch, Deputy Editor
Jay Soysal, Creative Director
Our blog contributors: Alia Akkam, Anne Marie Awad, Maria Cerretani, Sonya Gropman, Scott Lu, Nora Mulrooney, Anne Shisler-Hughes, Debroah Soffel and Alexa Weitzman
The many writers and photographers who contribute to our magazines each season
And absolutely not least, the readers, advertisers and business partners who support our efforts by visiting our website, reading our articles, buying subscriptions, purchasing advertising and distributing our magazines.
Thank you all! Most especially to the James Beard Foundation!!
-Written by Leah McLaughlin, Editor & Publisher, Edible Queens
