New Members Inducted into Made in USA Hall of Fame

LOS ANGELES, July 7, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Made in the USA Foundation announced 22 winners from 76 nominees to the Made in the USA Hall of Fame.  The Foundation held an awards dinner Saturday, July 2, 2011 at the Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel in Santa Monica, California and gave out the awards.

Joel D. Joseph, Chairman of the Foundation, said, "The Hall of Fame Awards was established last year to celebrate the best that America produces.  I have heard many times that 'nothing is made here.'  The Hall of Fame showcases exceptional U.S. producers and demonstrates that many high-quality products are made in the United States. The U.S. is still the leading manufacturing nation in the world.

Hall of Fame Winners:

Chateau Montelena -- Chateau Montelena was established in 1882.  In 1976, the winery entered a blind wine tasting in Paris.  When the scores were tallied, the French Judges rated Chateau Montelena's Chardonnay, above all other wines, launching California wines onto the world stage.  

Boston Beer Company Brewmeister Jim Koch comes from a long line of brewers.  In the mid-1980s, Jim got his great-great grandfather's recipe from his father's attic. After only six weeks on the market it won the award for "The Best Beer in America" in the Consumer Preference Poll at the Great American Beer Festival.

Milliken & Company -- The 1989 winner of the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award for Excellence, Milliken & Co. manufactures and distributes exceptional carpet and textile products worldwide.  

H.F. Coors -- Based in Tucson, Arizona, H.F. Coors combines the skills of talented artisans with modern, efficient production methods to produce some of the finest china available.

Dilettante Chocolate -- As chocolatier to the Austro Hungarian Emperor, Dana Davenport's great uncle, Julius Franzen, was celebrated for his great candy making skills and culinary talent. Today, Franzen's classic European recipes are still used by Dilettante at their Seattle chocolate factory.

Nordic Ware is a family-owned, American manufacturer of kitchenware products founded in 1946.  Best known for its signature bundt pans, Minnesota-based Nordic Ware manufactures an extensive line of quality cookware.

Colt -- The Colt 1911, official firearm of the U.S. Army from World War I until the Vietnam era, remains in production, virtually unchanged for 100 years. Colt is based in Connecticut.

New Balance – In 1938, New Balance created its first pair of athletic shoes.  Today, New Balance is now the largest shoe manufacturer in the United States, making 7 million pairs of athletic shoes a year in six factories in Maine and Massachusetts.

Ethan Allen -- In 1936, Ethan Allen manufactured its first Early American style furniture in New England.  Today, Ethan Allen is the largest U.S. furniture manufacturer in many styles.

Bevin Brothers -- The Bevin family has been crafting quality bells for 176 years.  Bevin Brothers is the only remaining company manufacturing bells in the United States.

SpaceX -- Established in 2002 by Elon Musk, SpaceX has developed three launch vehicles--the Falcon 1, Falcon 9 and the Dragon.  SpaceX is beating China and all other nations in a new space race.

Whirlpool Corporation -- Currently celebrating its 100th anniversary, Whirlpool started in business in 1911 producing motor-driven wringer washers as the Upton Machine Company.

Hart Schaffner & Marx – Since 1887, Hart Schaffner & Marx has been manufacturing men's suits.  President Obama typically wears Hart Schaffner & Marx suits, modestly priced quality suits that all men can wear.

Fender Musical Instruments Corporation – Starting in 1946, Fender has touched and transformed music worldwide and in nearly every genre: rock 'n' roll, country and western, jazz, rhythm and blues.  Southern California inventor Leo Fender realized that he could improve on the amplified hollow-body instruments of the day by using an innovative solid-body electric guitar design.

3M --  In 1925, 3M invented masking tape, the first of many Scotch brand pressure-sensitive tapes. In 1980, 3M introduced Post-it Notes.  3M has always been innovative and made in the USA.

Peterboro Basket -- The Peterboro Basket Company has thrived in the heart of historic Peterborough, New Hampshire making high-quality baskets since 1854.

Vitamix -- Vitamix has been in business nearly 90 years and is still family-owned and operated making high-quality blenders. 

Jack Daniel's -- Since 1866, the Jack Daniel Distillery is the oldest registered distillery in the U.S.

 Annin Flagmakers – Since 1847, Annin has made top-quality American flags.

 K'NEX – K'NEX is the next generation of plastic construction toy sets. Knex toys inspire creativity, confidence building and encourages social interaction among children and parents.

Harley-Davidson --.  For more than a century, Harley-Davidson has continued to lead the industry in motorcycle manufacturing and design.

Bed Head Pajamas -- A talented clothing designer, Renee Claire Bertrand has created a line of well-designed pajamas using unique, screened cotton prints.

SOURCE Made in the USA Foundation