ORLANDO, Fla. – “Southerners always seem to be thinking about good food.”
That’s the opener for Southern Living’s Southern Food Hall of Fame, a reader-driven list celebrating the 50 top-rated Southern-born foods and drinks.
The picks span everything from pantry staples and bold condiments to pickled favorites, classic sodas, and breakfast essentials — proof that “Southern” isn’t just a geography. It’s a way of eating, sharing, and remembering.
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Among these entries, though, two were selected from the Sunshine State.
The first comes is Natalie’s Orchid Island Juice Company in Fort Pierce, famous for its orange juice, lemonades and margarita mix.
But many Florida residents may be familiar with the next pick: Publix’s Key Lime Pie.
“The bakery department of this chain holds a special place in many Southerners’ hearts, but the Key lime pie with the unique addition of toasted almonds really sets it apart,” the report reads.
And yet another southern favorite — Buc-ee’s Beaver Nuggets — also managed to rank on this year’s report.
“Don’t let the name intimidate you,” the report continues. “This road trip snack is worth pulling over for. The caramel-coated corn puffs are a staple of Buc-ee’s, a gas station giant that was established in 1982 in the Lone Star State and is rapidly expanding to every corner of the South.”
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Below is a full list of the Hall of Fame entrants as published by Southern Living.
Stock the Pantry
- Camellia Brand Beans (New Orleans, Louisiana)
- Old Bay Seasoning (Baltimore, Maryland)
- Ro-Tel (Elsa, Texas)
- Cajun Country Rice (Crowley, Louisiana)
- Blue Plate Mayonnaise (New Orleans, Louisiana)
- Bush’s Baked Beans (Chestnut Hill, Tennessee)
- Hubs Virginia Peanuts (Sedley, Virginia)
- Anson Mills Cornmeal (Columbia, South Carolina)
- Luzianne Tea (New Orleans, Louisiana)
- Duke’s Mayonnaise (Greenville, South Carolina)
- Schermer Pecans (Thomasville, Georgia)
Pickled and Punchy
- Mt. Olive Pickles (Mount Olive, North Carolina)
- Wickles Pickles (Dadeville, Alabama)
- Old South Tomolives (Alma, Arkansas)
- Mrs. Campbell’s Chowchow (Winston-Salem, North Carolina)
Take a Sip
- Ale-8-One (Winchester, Kentucky)
- Big Red (Waco, Texas)
- Cheerwine (Salisbury, North Carolina)
- Sun Drop (St. Louis, Missouri)
- Barq’s Root Beer (Biloxi, Mississippi)
Breakfast of Champions
- Benton’s Smoky Mountain Country Hams (Madisonville, Tennessee)
- Wright Brand Bacon (Vernon, Texas)
- Steen’s Cane Syrup (Abbeville, Louisiana)
- Delta Grind Grits (Water Valley, Mississippi)
- Conecuh Sausage (Evergreen, Alabama)
- Country Pleasin’ Brand Sausage (Pelahatchie, Mississippi)
- Natalie’s Orchid Island Juice Company (Fort Pierce, Florida)
- Jimmy Dean Sausage (Plainview, Texas)
- White Lily Flour (Knoxville, Tennessee)
- Callie’s Hot Little Biscuit (Charleston, South Carolina)
Heated Rivalry
- Crystal Hot Sauce (New Orleans, Louisiana)
- Louisiana Hot Sauce (New Iberia, Louisiana)
- Tabasco Sauce (Avery Island, Louisiana)
Shop Local
- Rouses Markets: Mauthe’s Creole Cream Cheese (Houma, Louisiana)
- Publix: Key Lime Pie (Winter Haven, Florida)
- H-E-B: Tortillas (Kerrville, Texas)
Get Saucy
- Stubb’s Bar-B-Q Sauce (Lubbock, Texas)
- Sweet Georgia Soul BBQ Sauce (St. Simons Island, Georgia)
- Big Bob Gibson Bar-B-Q White Sauce (Decatur, Alabama)
- Texas Pete Pepper Sauce (Winston-Salem, North Carolina)
- Bone Suckin’ Sauce (Raleigh, North Carolina)
Make a Pit Stop
- Goo Goo Cluster Candy (Nashville, Tennessee)
- MoonPie (Chattanooga, Tennessee)
- Zapp’s Potato Chips (Gramercy, Louisiana)
- Golden Flake Chips (Birmingham, Alabama)
- Blue Bell Ice Cream (Brenham, Texas)
- Buc-ee’s Beaver Nuggets (Lake Jackson, Texas)
- Stuckey’s Pecan Log Roll (Eastman, Georgia)
- Lance Peanut Butter Crackers (Charlotte, North Carolina)
- Little Debbie Snack Cakes (Chattanooga, Tennessee)