Just as Traverse City prepares to launch its own food and wine festival, the town has been recognized by culinary publication Food & Wine as one of the top small town in the United States for food and drink.

The recognition – the latest in a long line of national notices for TC and its foodie scene – is part of a larger feature from Food & Wine: the publication’s third annual “Global Tastemakers Awards.” Described as “a best-of list with a mission to celebrate culture, cuisine, and culinary experiences that are rooted in a true sense of place,” this year’s Global Tastemakers feature includes lists of the best American cities for pastry and coffee, the top 15 restaurants in the country, and more.

Traverse City clocks in at number 11 on the 11-town list of the best small American cities for food and drink. The list also includes the likes of Asheville, North Carolina (number 1), Burlington, Vermont (number 3), and McMinnville, Oregon (number 8).

“Traverse City is shaped by the Great Lakes – its glacial soil and temperate microclimate create an agricultural paradise,” the blurb about TC reads. “Cherries are the star (this is the Cherry Capital of the World), and the region yields wine grapes, hops, and grains that fuel a booming beverage culture. That abundance has drawn great kitchen talent and earned the area a reputation as a rising foodie hub.”

Garnering specific namedrops are business like Farm Club, The Cooks’ House, and Aerie, as well as Traverse City Tourism’s brand-new Traverse City Food & Wine festival, which is slated for August. Incidentally, tickets for Traverse City Food & Wine events are officially on sale as of yesterday.