SANTA MONICA, Calif., July 3, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The Made in the USA Foundation announced 20 winners from 60 nominees to the Made in the USA Hall of Fame. The Foundation held Made in the USA Hall of Fame Awards dinner Monday, July 2, 2012 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 two years ago 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. manufacturers 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.

Three judges were assigned to each category. Points were given for three criteria: Quality Competitiveness and Impact. Quality comparisons included use of Consumer Reports, the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award (awarded by the National Institute of Standards and Technology), and other evaluating entities. Competitiveness included the company’s comparisons with imports and its ability to export. Last year, Boeing was named to the Made in the USA Hall of Fame because of its exceptional competitiveness in the world marketplace. Impact includes whether the company developed new breakthroughs in technology, a new product category or has exceptional designs.

About the Made in the USA Foundation

The Made in the USA Foundation is a non-profit organization established in 1989 through matching grants from the United Auto Works and Ford Motor Company. The Foundation is dedicated to promoting products made in the United States, developing legislation supporting U.S. businesses and industry, and pursuing litigation against those misusing the “Made in the USA” label. The Foundation championed the Country of Origin Labeling Act for food and the American Automobile Labeling Act. Both were passed into law.

2012 Hall of Fame Winners:

Herman Miller
Office Furniture
Channel Islands
Surfboards
Chevy Volt
Electric Auto
Zero Motorcycles
Electric Motorcycle
Viking
Gas Ranges/Cooktops
Armstrong
Hand Tools
Tito’s Vodka
Vodka
McIntosh Amplifiers
Stereo Equipment
Beaulieu Vineyard
Wine
California Olive Ranch
Olive Oil
Solar World
Solar Panels
Google
Software
Worksman Bicycles
Bicycles
Kala Eyewear
Eyeglasses
Dodge Dart
Economy Cars
Boyd Lighting
Lighting
Zometool
Toys
Marin French Cheese Co.
Cheese
Master Lock
Welcome Back
Letarte Swimwear
Swimwear