NATCHEZ &045; Annette Beetz isn’t sure how cable television network Turner South came to proclaim her cakes the &uot;blue ribbon&uot; cakes of the South.

She’s just glad her company, Cora’s Cakes, and Natchez are getting nationwide publicity as a result.

On Saturday, a crew from Tentmaker Productions of Charlotte, N.C., came to town to film a segment of the show &uot;Blue Ribbon,&uot; which will debut on Turner South in the fall.

&uot;It’s the best of the South &045; best bed-and-breakfast, best burger joint, Š and best cakes,&uot; said writer-producer Ane Oberlander. &uot;They’re trying to do some more original Southern programming.&uot;

On Saturday, they filmed footage at the Cora’s Cakes workshop and at Daniels Basketry, where a cake tasting was held.

And both Beetz and Daniels owner Elaine Daniels said they had little more than a week to prepare for the visit.

&uot;I knew they were coming before that. I just didn’t know when,&uot; Beetz said.

&uot;I only had a few days to move all my stuff around &045; and I just got Christmas (merchandise) in,&uot; said Daniels, laughing.

However, it is worth it to get the nationwide publicity, although they are not sure when the episode will air.

Appearances on such stations at The Food Network (last January) have helped boost a once-sagging business, Beetz said.

&uot;We ship them all over the place now,&uot; she said.

And both said they will be glad to see Natchez in the spotlight at a time when publicity is needed to attract tourists &045; and tourist dollars.

&uot;It’ll be a good thing not just for us, but for Natchez,&uot; Beetz said.

Meanwhile, the filming crew had started interviewing locals and filming them as they sampled several varieties of cake, from Natchez Pecan to Mississippi Mud. There are even a couple of sugar-free varieties.

Meanwhile, Oberlander said crews from Turner South will be back in the future to film an episode of the show &uot;Three-Day Weekend&uot; in Natchez, although she isn’t sure when the filming will take place.

One thing’s for sure &045; if and when Turner South crews do return, she said, &uot;I’m going to lobby for that (assignment).&uot;