MADISON, Ohio — The third annual Harvest in the Harbor Festival in Ashtabula Harbor crowned sourdough bread baking champions Sunday, Sept. 21.

The winners are already shaping the future of Northeast Ohio’s artisan bread scene. One is opening a bakery in Madison Village this fall.

Taking top honors was Melissa Baumbick of Pointer Pastures in Jefferson, followed by Katie Swart of Daily Bread Sourdough in Madison in second place and Annie Jacobs of The Golden Crumb Sourdough in Ashtabula in third.

Baumbick and Jacobs sell their bread at farmers markets in Ashtabula County, while Swart is preparing to open a brick-and-mortar bakery in Madison Village next month.

For Swart, who began baking sourdough during the pandemic, the recognition is another milestone in a journey that started wit

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