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 Monday July 19th saw nervous finalists at Circa, the Prince restaurant in Melbourne to learn their fate in the ABC delicious. magazine 2010 Produce Awards, the fifth of these awards which encourage, showcase and reward Australia’s top producers.
The top producers had been shortlisted by a panel of Australia’s leading chefs from around the nation before being presented to the national judges - Matt Moran, Philip Johnson, Cheong Liew, Alla Wolf-Tasker, Neil Perry and Maggie Beer, patron of the Produce Awards. Winners in each category were selected, the remaining top producers were awarded as medallists, acknowledging their consistency in submitting top-quality produce.
THE RESULTS:
Winner, From The Sea & Producer Of The Year – Pristine Oyster Farm (South Australia) Pristine Oyster Farm, run by brothers Tony, Brendan and Nick Guidera, left judges speechless with their perfectly formed Angasi and Kumamoto-style Pacific oysters. “When you see where they’re produced, it’s just the most breathtaking spot,” says Alla Wolf-Tasker.
Winner, From The Dairy – Holy Goat Cheese (Victoria) Once again, the judges cast Holy Goat La Luna – a matured, soft goat’s curd with a natural rind – as the Holy Grail of Australian cheese. “It’s absolutely the benchmark,” says Matt Moran. La Luna is one of nine handmade cheeses produced by Carla Meurs and Ann-Marie Monda at their organic farm near Castlemaine.
Winner, From The Earth – Australian Caper Company (South Australia) Jonathon Trewartha and his growers harvested the country’s first commercial caper crops in 2006 on the banks of the Murray River. The Australian Caper Company now produces buds in different grades (salted and in oil), caperberries and a caper salt. “They’re already succeeding in their goal of matching the quality of imported alternatives,” says Maggie Beer, who also commented that “this year’s caperberries are better than any I’ve tried”.
Winner, From The Paddock – Blackmore Wagyu Beef (Victoria) A consistent winner and medallist in the awards, Blackmore Wagyu holds its own not just in the Australian food industry, but on the world stage. David and Julie Blackmore were the first to rear fullblood Japanese stock in Australia, and celebrate 22 years in wagyu this year. “It’s a consistently outstanding product,” says Matt Moran.
Congratulations too, to the following:
Medallists From The Sea
- Oss Eels - Smoked Eel (VIC)
- Seafarm - Sashimi-Grade Crystal Bay Prawns (QLD)
- Spanner Crabs Noosa - Raw Hand-Picked Crabmeat (QLD)
- Spring Bay Seafoods - Mussels And Cocktail Abalone (TAS)
Medallists From The Dairy
- Meredith Dairy - Cheeses (VIC)
Medallists From The Earth
- Angelica Organic Farm - Garlic (VIC)
- Cuttaway Creek Raspberry Farm - Raspberry Vinegar (NSW)
- Darling Mills Farm - Herbs And Leaves (NSW)
- Daylesford Organics - Vegetables (VIC)
- Li-Sun Exotic Mushrooms - Mixed Mushrooms (NSW)
- Midyim Eco - Pimientos (QLD)
- Miellerie - Tea Tree Honey (TAS)
- Moondarra Blueberries (VIC)
- Mt Alexander Fruit Gardens - Organic Fruit (VIC)
- Sunsalt Murray River - Pink Salt (VIC)
- Tasmanian Honey Company (TAS)
- Tas-Saff - Saffron (TAS)
Medallists From The Paddock
- Cornucopia Biodynamic Farm - Duck Eggs (NSW)
- Isola Chianina - Beef (VIC)
- Macleay Valley Rabbits (NSW)
- Mayura Station - Wagyu Beef (SA)
- Mondo White Rocks - Veal (WA)
- Sher Wagyu - Beef (VIC)
- Schuam Berkshire - Pork (SA)
- Redgate Farm - Jurassic Quail (NSW)
- Warialda Belted Galloway - Beef (VIC)
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19.7.10 - 2010 Produce Awards - Richard Thomas, Credit Anthony Licuria
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| Richard Thomas, Matt Preston - Credit Anthony Licuria |
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| Philip Johnson, Cheong Liew, Matt Moran, Trudi Jenkins, Matt Preston, Alla Wolf-Tasker, Neil Perry - Credit Anthony Licuria |
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