16 February 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information, contact:
Charlie Wunsch
Edible Grande Traverse
T: 231-360-3663
E: charlie@ediblegrandetraverse.com

Regional Food Magazine Brings Home Five EDDY Awards
Celebrating Excellence in Member Publications

Santa Fe, New Mexico, January 2009— Edible Grande Traverse magazine, based in Traverse City, Michigan, was honored in 5 of 16 categories at the annual EDDY Awards ceremony of Edible Communities, Inc., including one winning article and four that placed as runners-up. Edible Communities, Inc. (ECI) is the leading network of magazines dedicated to the local and regional food movement. Edible Ojai, launched in 2002 by Tracey Ryder and Carole Topalian, was lauded by Saveur magazine in 2004 as the model for what a regional food magazine should be. That recognition led them to found Edible Communities, Inc. to help other local publishers explore the foods farmed, raised, tended and produced on family farms and by small growers throughout North America. ECI now licenses over 50 locally owned and operated titles across the continent, including Edible Grande Traverse. Information about ECI and its member publications can be found at www.EdibleCommunities.com.

The publishers of ECI gather annually to exchange information and ideas, and to honor excellence within their publications network by naming winners of the EDDY Awards. Judged by a panel of outside experts from the food and publishing worlds, the awards recognize outstanding writing, photography and marketing campaigns. This year’s EDDY Awards were sponsored and judged by Saveur magazine. Editor-in-chief James Oseland offered the following comment about the awards: “What an amazing group of entries were submitted tothis year’s Edible Communities EDDY Awards for excellence in publishing. Eachof them—and I do mean each—was a singular gem, a testament to the entertaining and valuable work that all the Edible editors and contributors are doing. Your efforts in helping to keep regional American food journalism alive and thriving have never been more important.”

Only two other publications received more than the five awards granted to Edible Grande Traverse: Edible Portland with nine and Edible Austin with six. In accepting the honors for Edible Grande Traverse, co-publisher and editor Barb Tholin expressed her deep gratitude to the staff, contributors and readers:“What a terrific way to cap off our first year in print. Thank you all.” Edible Grande Traverse’s 2009 EDDY awards include:

WINNER FOR BEST EDITORIAL SPREAD OR LAYOUT
“Edible Traditions: You’ve Got Milk,” by Gary L. Howe. Designer: Melissa Petersen

RUNNER-UP FOR BEST EDITORIAL—SHORT
“Edible Traditions: You’ve Got Milk,” by Gary L. Howe, Edible Grande Traverse

RUNNER-UP FOR BEST EDITORIAL—GARDENING FOCUSED
“Lessons from a Backyard Garden Pioneer,” by Mike Davis, Edible Grande Traverse

RUNNER-UP FOR BEST NEW COLUMN CREATION
“Wild Thing,” Edible Grande Traverse

RUNNER-UP FOR BEST EDITORIAL—FARMER PROFILE
“What Turkeys Want,” by Charlie Wunsch, Edible Grande Traverse

The 2010 awards will be presented at the ECI Annual Meeting in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in January 2010.