KINGSTON, Jamaica — Co-Founder of the Busha Browne Company and Associated Manufacturers Limited (AML) consultant Winston Stona is to be inducted into the 2016 Class of the Specialty Food Hall of Fame.

The inductees will be honoured on January 18, at the Winter Fancy Food Show in San Francisco as part of a special event that also includes the association’s leadership awards.

According to the show’s website, “the association is honouring 47 individuals who have been instrumental in building and shaping the $109-

billion specialty food industry into the thriving business it is today.”

Stona is being honoured as co-founder of the Busha Browne Company an award-winning company widely recognised as introducing jerk seasoning to the US market.

“I’m honoured and humbled,” said Stona, who leaves tomorrow for San Francisco. “It’s a first, I believe, for the region and as such would

like to thank the Busha Browne team and all those who have supported the brand both here and overseas.”

Established in 2015, the Hall of Fame’s mission is to “honour individuals whose accomplishments, impact, contributions, innovations and successes within the specialty food industry deserve praise and recognition”.

“Creativity and innovation,” according to Ron Tanner, vice-president of philanthropy, government and industry relations for the association, “are the cornerstone of the specialty food industry. The Hall of Fame honours manufacturers, importers, retailers and culinary leaders who established and inspired the specialty food industry in the 1950s, 60s, 70s and 80s and who continue to impact how America eats.”

The keynote speaker is Paul Saginaw, co-owner and founder of Zingerman’s Community of Businesses who has helped build the company into a

$50-million-plus enterprise by pursuing a social as well as a business

agenda.

The Specialty Food Association is a thriving community of food artisans, importers and entrepreneurs. Established in 1952 in New York, the

not-for-profit trade association provides its 3,000 members in the United States and abroad with resources, knowledge and connections to champion and nurture their companies in an always-evolving marketplace. The Association owns and produces the Winter and Summer Fancy Food Shows.

NMW