The Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria (RASV) has announced a new opportunity for Australian food producers with the launch of the Australian Food Awards.
Announced on 19 April, the Australian Food Awards will celebrate excellence and recognise the best producers of fine food in Australia.
Building on the success of RASV’s Royal Melbourne Fine Food Awards, the Australian Food Awards will offer broader opportunities to Australian producers to leverage their success locally and internationally with the Australian Food Awards’ national brand seal of excellence.
“The RASV has worked in close consultation with industry specialists to create a premier national awards program that celebrates the very best Australian fine food producers,” said RASV CEO Mark O’Sullivan. “We are proud to be building the profile of home-grown Australian producers that are at the heart of Australian agriculture.”
The Australian Food Awards will feature eight overarching categories, including Dairy, Meat, Poultry, Seafood, Fresh Produce, Grains and Pulses, Pantry Goods and Convenience Foods.
“The eight categories incorporate the Royal Melbourne Fine Food Awards’ former 16 categories whilst expanding the program offering to introduce new categories that reflect growing consumer food trends, such as ready-to-eat and prepared meals in the Convenience Foods category, truffles in the Fresh Produce category, and goat and pork in the Meat category,” said Mark.
Entries for the 2016 Australian Food Awards will open on Tuesday 24 May, with producers encouraged to enter online via food.rasv.com.au.
More than 100 leading industry experts will judge the categories from 7 to 22 July. Due to seasonality, judging for olive oil will take place separately in August, with a further seasonal judging program in February.
Scores will be represented on distribution graphs that will enable producers to see how their products rank against those of their competitors.
All producers who enter the Australian Food Awards will be invited to attend exclusive exhibitor tasting events following the judging period, providing valuable networking experiences and opportunities to trial competitor’s products.
Medal-winning producers will be eligible to win major awards presented at the Australian Food Awards Gala Presentation Dinner in September. This includes new trophies for overall category champions, Champion Organic Produce/Product, overall small, medium and large Champion Producer, and the prestigious Champion Australian Produce/Product award.
Products that are consistently awarded a gold medal for three years or more will also be eligible to receive a Consistency of Excellence Medal.
Award-winning producers will be provided with the Australian Food Awards national brand seal of excellence to market their product. There will also be exclusive opportunities for award-winning producers to promote their brand locally at the Royal Melbourne Show and through the international export development program.
For more information about Australian Food Awards or to register your product visit food.rasv.com.au.