2026 Good Food Award Winners

The Farmstead team works year-round to collect the best ingredients and create delicious products that celebrate Blackberry Farm and our home in the Great Smoky Mountains. Thanks to them, we enjoy cheeses, preserves, pickles and jams that exemplify their artistry and show off the best of each season. 

While we always appreciate our team for their dedication to creating great food with great ingredients, it’s an honor when others recognize the value – and exceptional taste – of their work, too. We are excited to celebrate that Brebis and Hawkins Haze were awarded 2026 Good Food Awards! 

The Good Food Award winners are chosen through a blind tasting process that included more than 1,200 entries for 2026. The winners “embody the tradition, sustainability, social responsibility and boundless creativity that define excellence in their respective categories.”

Both of these cheeses are staples in the Blackberry Farm Farmstead collection, beloved by guests, team, chefs and friends alike. Made from our signature sheep’s milk, each cheese has a unique flavor and story behind it. Congratulations to Cheesemaker Chris Osborne and the Farmstead team!

BREBIS
Brebis is produced similarly to a Chevre. It is rich with a supple texture, while being light on the palate. This is a beautifully balanced cheese, making it a very versatile. It is excellent when eaten alone, as an accent to any sandwich, or paired with a delicious jam. It can be used in place of ingredients like cream cheese, in cream cheese brownies, for example, and it is a great ingredient in savory favorites as well. Click on the recipe names below and follow along to enjoy Brebis in these delicious dishes.  

• Charred Asparagus and Peas – Enjoy a quick, refreshing bite packed with flavor on a bed of Brebis.
• Poached Farm Eggs – Elevate your next brunch with a Farm classic.
• Honey Thyme Brebis and Pear Toast – Reimagine your morning toast with a dish that is approachable and delicious. 

HAWKINS HAZE
Hawkins Haze is an ashed surface-ripened cheese named after the Hawkins line that runs through Blackberry Farm, represented by the line of vegetable ash that runs through the paste of the cheese. When young, Hawkins Haze has a light texture and finishes with crisp citrus notes. As it ages, the flavors of fresh cream become more intense. 

This is a must-have on your cheese boards. While cheese is delicious at any point – and always a hit as a starting course – Cheesemaker Chris Osborne recommends serving a cheese course a little later. "I like to enjoy cheese after my meal. Spring cheeses like Hawkins Haze pair beautifully with a sweet or fruity component for a refreshing dessert." The cheese helps balance your dessert from being overly sweet, while pairing beautifully with sweeter jams and preserves. 

Ready to try them?

Click here to purchase Brebis from the Blackberry Farm Shop. 
Click here to purchase Hawkins Haze from the Blackberry Farm Shop.