---
title: About Best of the Valley
url: https://yakimavalleybest.com/about.html
---

# About Best of the Valley

Best of the Valley is the annual reader vote run by the *Yakima Valley Business Times*. Readers pick their favorite local businesses in Yakima County, and we publish the winners in our Best Of issues each fall. The 2026 ballot is the 26th; we've run it since 2001.

## Who runs it

The *Yakima Valley Business Times* is a locally owned monthly business publication covering Yakima County, published since 1998 by Yakima Valley Publishing, Inc. in Yakima, Washington. Learn more at [yvpub.com](https://yvpub.com).

## How voting works

- The 2026 ballot had 96 categories in six sections: Businesses; Health, Wellness & Beauty; Retirement Living; Food & Drink; Auto; and Construction & Real Estate.
- Voting ran April 28 through May 31, 2026.
- Voters give their name, email and ZIP code, then write in or choose a business in each category they want to vote in.
- A ballot needs at least 12 picks to count.
- Each email address may submit one ballot per week.

## How winners are chosen

The business with the most valid votes in a category wins. We remove duplicate and invalid ballots before counting. Winners are announced in the October and November 2026 issues of the *Yakima Valley Business Times* and on the [2026 winners page](/2026/).

## For businesses

Won a category, or want to advertise in the Best Of issues? Call (509) 457-4886 or email [sales@yvpub.com](mailto:sales@yvpub.com).

See also: [Contact](/contact.html) · [Terms and privacy](/terms.html)