Thirteen Champion Trophies were presented to some of Australia’s finest producers at a presentation dinner for the inaugural 2016 Australian Food Awards (AFA) on 8 September.
Hosted annually by The Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria (RASV), the AFA is Australia’s leading national food awards program celebrating excellence, and recognising the best producers of premium food in Australia.
“The calibre of entrants in this year’s AFA is why we at RASV are so passionate and committed to this world-class program. We are proud to recognise and reward home-grown Australian producers and provide opportunities for them to leverage their success locally and internationally through AFA’s national brand seal of excellence,” said RASV CEO, Mark O’Sullivan.
Terra Preta Truffles took out the prestigious Champion Australian Product/Produce award. It also won the Champion Fresh Produce trophy for its Truffles with French Black Truffles, grown in Braidwood, New South Wales.
Victorian producers Plough to Plate Fine Foods in Thomastown, Dooley’s Ice Cream in Geelong, and Brunetti in Carlton took out the Champion Small, Medium and Large Producer trophies respectively.
The award for Champion Organic Product/Produce was awarded to Schulz Organic Dairy in Timboon, VIC for its Pure Cream.
The highly contested trophy for Champion Australian Dairy went to Prom Country Cheese in Moyarra/Bena, VIC for its Venus Blue cheese.
Champion Australian trophy for Grains and Pulses was awarded to The Honey Thief Bakery in Blackburn, VIC for its Seeded Sourdough. Champion Australian Pantry Goods was presented to Cunliffe & Waters in Coldstream, VIC, and Champion Convenience Food to John McEwan’s Kanodia Nominees in Melbourne, VIC for its Chicken Kale and Quinoa Soup.
Woodward Food Australia in Swan Hill, VIC won the Champion Australian Meat trophy for its Prime Lamb, while Milking Yard farm in Trentham, VIC took out the prize for Champion Australian Poultry, and Salvatore’s Smokehouse in Earlwood, NSW was awarded Champion Australian Seafood for its smoked oysters.
With the AFA building on the success of the RASV’s Royal Melbourne Fine Food Awards (RMFFA) program, Champion Trophies were also presented for the 2016 RMFFA program, judged in April 2016.
Awards for Champion Chocolate Bar and Block, Single Variety Chocolate and Easter Chocolate went to Australian Chocolate in Mission Beach, Queensland; Bracegirdle’s House of Fine Chocolate in Adelaide, South Australia; and Bibelot in South Melbourne, VIC respectively.
Tasmanian producer Tasmanian Gourmet Garlic in Middleton, Tasmania was awarded the Champion Fresh Produce – Garlic trophy for its Dunganski garlic.
For more information on the Australian Food Awards, please visit food.rasv.com.au
Image credit: Craig Moodie, BA Photography, featuring Brunetti award receipient for Champion Large Producer.