Award Categories

Producer of the Year | Restaurant of the Year | Retailer of the Year | Nonprofit of the Year | Food Day Champion of the Year | Lifetime Achievement 

2022 Food Day Omaha Award Judges

Mary Balluff – Community Consultant and 2017 Food Day Omaha Lifetime Achievement Award Winner

Kristen Beck – Omaha Farmers Market Coordinator, Senior Project Manager at Vic Gutman & Associates

Craig Howell – Retired, Director of Community Partnerships at Together and 2021 Food Day Omaha Lifetime Achievement Award Winner

Brian O’Malley – Associate Dean – Culinary Arts, Hospitality and Horticulture at Metropolitan Community College

Susan Whitfield – Facilities Manager at No More Empty Pots

Official Rules:

1. Food Day Omaha Award nominations are submitted by the public, Food Day Omaha event committee, and Food Day Omaha Award judges.

2. The public may submit suggestions for nominees at any time throughout the year to be considered by the judges. Deadline for suggestions to

      be considered for the current year's awards is June 30. After that, any suggestions will be submitted for the following year. (See submission

      form at the bottom of the page to recommend someone for next year’s awards.)

3. No previous winners may be nominated again in the same category within 5 years of their award. However, they may be nominated in another

     category, if it applies.

4. The judges review each submission and assign a score based on how well the organization or individual represents the Food Day values. If any       judge is determined to have a conflict of interest with any of the potential nominees, that judge will abstain from voting in that category.

5. The five organizations/individuals in each category with the highest scores are the final nominees.

6. Public voting takes place the month prior to the Food Day Omaha event.

7. Judges select the winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award (no public voting; however, the public may submit suggestions for consideration).

8. After the public voting period ends, judges will review public votes and confirm the winners.

9. Winners are announced at the Food Day event.

     a. Winners receive a plaque; nominees receive a certificate.

     b. Winners will be invited to a dinner hosted by Food Day Omaha and Metropolitan Community College at Sage Student Bistro after the event

          (as CDC guidelines allow).

2022 Award Recipients and Finalists

Thank you to everyone who voted in the 2022 Omaha Food Day Awards. Congratulations to all the winners and finalists. Thank you for your meaningful contributions to the Omaha community!