By Jeff Henson

MUD PUDDLE FARMS

Grande Prairie business nominated for 2022 Made in Alberta award

May 11, 2022 | 12:46 PM

A Grande Prairie company is one of several local groups nominated for a 2022 Made in Alberta award.

Mud Puddle Farms Rustic Kitchen was nominated and selected as a finalist in the savoury foods category for their Roasted Smoked Peppercorns.

Co-owner Sue Bouchard says the item was created by her husband Ray and can be used in a variety of ways.

“You can grind them up and put them in any dish. You can also put them in a soup bag and put them in with your soup. You can leave them whole in a peppercorn sauce, which is one of our favourite ways to use them. You can grind them up and put them into rubs. And we have even had some foodies that have popped them in their mouth and chewed them and eaten them.”

Bouchard says they were very excited when they received the email, telling them that they had been named a finalist.

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“It is something that you put your product forward for, and then if they qualify through all of the qualifications they have, then you move on as a finalist.”

Bouchard says the Peppercorns are a very popular item, usually selling out whenever they have them at different shows and markets.

She adds that just being nominated has been great for their business.

“We are really trying to get our stuff out wholesale, along with the other smoked spices, sugars, and salts that we do. We have already had some new likes to our page, for example, inquiries on where you can get the peppercorns and other stuff from down in Calgary and Airdrie and places like that. So we know that it has already helped a little bit.”

The reader’s choice voting for these awards is underway by clicking on the link on the Made in Alberta awards website (www.madeinalbertaawards.ca) until May 24th.

Bouchard is hopeful their customers will support them through this.

“By having Reader’s Choice, it means people have either tried it and think it is a great product or by just hearing about what it is, they think it would be a great thing to try. It just feels great.”

There is also a component to the contest where the finalists will be judged by a panel of experts.