Ashby Confections honored as finalist in 2016 Good Food Awards

ScottsValley’s Ashby Confections is one of only three Santa CruzCounty food businesses that have been officially named a finalist in the 2016 Good Food Awards. They are among 263 Finalists out of this year’s 1,937 entries. The other two local finalists are Friend in Cheeses Jam Company from Santa Cruz and Venus Spirits.
 Ashby Confections nominated products are Salty Dessert Heat Caramel and Fresh Orange Sour Strips.
The Good Food Awards are supported by the Good Food Retailers Collaborators. The Collaborative is composed of 13 of the country’s top independently owned retailers from Chicago to Oakland to Ann Arbor; they are committed to supporting America’s great food producers in their own communities and across the country.
On January 15, 2016, the winners will be announced at a gala Awards Ceremony at FortMasonCenter for Arts & Culture. The presentations will be made by renowned chef and food activist Alice Waters and organics pioneer Nell Newman. Slow Food founder, Carlo Petrini, will deliver the opening remarks.
 Jennifer Ashby, owner of Ashby’s Confections, has been in the chocolate business for about six years. While studying baking and pastry at the Culinary Institute of America in Santa Helena, she got introduced to making chocolate and she’s been making chocolate ever since.
The motto on her wall says, “Money can’t buy happiness, but it can buy marshmallows, which are pretty much the same thing.”
 Ashby Confections is located at 16C Victor Square, ScottsValley, 454-8299.