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assionate food producers from Raglan to Wanaka were among the champions in a league of their own in this year’s Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards, with Wairarapa’s Homegrown Farm Fresh Meats taking the Supreme Champion 2021 title. Homegrown Farm Fresh Meats Mixed Box - Beef & Lamb is the work of couple Dion and Ali Kilmister, who run 1500 head of cattle and 15,000 sheep on three farms spread over 250 km in the lower North Island. As well as farming, in September 2019 they became retailers establishing Homegrown Butchery, Deli and Pantry, a bricks and mortar butcher’s shop, deli and pantry in Masterton which also has as an online store. Bestowing the awards, the judges tasting notes said, “We really wanted to tuck in! Very tender meat – all the way through… pure meat flavours of both the beef and lamb are outstanding.” Head judge Lauraine Jacobs said Homegrown Farm Fresh Meats’ mixed box of beef and lamb was an absolute standout. “Every single cut of meat in that box was incredibly flavourful and tasty, a testament to good farming practices and the natural New Zealand grass-fed lamb and beef that is the envy of farming countries around the world.” It’s the second year in a row that the Giesen Paddock category winner was also named Supreme Champion and the second time Homegrown Farm Fresh Meats has been named Paddock Champion, after winning for their Gourmet Lamb Pack back in 2018. A second Wairarapa business was also named a Champion, with Tora Collective named Seafood New Zealand Water Champion for its fresh pāua. Commercial fisher Troy Bramley and his partner, marketer Claire Edwards say the realisation the best seafood from NZ waters wasn’t destined for Aotearoa prompted them to set up Tora Collective. They fish sustainability off the southern Wairarapa coast with the aim of supplying ‘kaimoana fresh as, straight from the ocean’. The judging panel believed they had achieved their mission with one judge noting, “It’s quality pāua that can be sliced and cooked just like that! It’s an awesome product.” Tora Collective was also recognised with the NZ Life & Leisure Spirit of 8 AUGUST 2021 - HOSPITALITY BUSINESS
Food glorious food from New Zealand New Zealand Award. Tora Collective with the power of how growing and launched in October 2019 and now gardening can help people”. supply about 50kg of live pāua a week Organic urban farm Hamlin Road exclusively within New Zealand. As Farm supplies fresh produce and well as fishing sustainability, their seedlings to its South Auckland commitment to the environment community. However, it’s more than a extends to their packaging which is farm, it grows produce and people. The recyclable or compostable. They use farm employs and trains people from seaweed to stop live seafood from Counties Manukau recovering from moving in transit and fill robust bull addiction and mental health challenges, kelp with water then freeze it, using it giving them vocational training, work as a natural ice pack. experience and support to help them Another South Island business was find work and confidence. recognised with Emerson’s Dairy FMCG Business New Product Champion awarded to ViaVio for their Champion is Loaf Salted Caramel Mascarpone. Nelson’s ViaVio is named Brownie Balls. From their Ellerslie after a combination of its founders bakery, Loaf craft a range of bakery names; Flavia Spena and Flavio products including, since last October, Donati, both originally from Rome. Loaf Salted Caramel Brownie Balls. Made traditionally - by handThe judges said the balls were “rich, pouring milk into a cheeseclothmoreish, smooth, provocative’ “Look out for lined colander and leaving it and noted that they ‘would be to slowly strain - ViaVio amazing with a coffee”. winning products mascarpone impressed the In recognition of the wearing champion, judges with its creamy challenges facing business gold, silver and bronze texture and rich buttery over the past 18 months Outstanding NZ Food Producer and the innovation flavour. ViaVio also won gold medals for their prompted by Covid, Awards medals – a promise pecorino and yoghurt plus this year’s new business of produce made in New silver medals for ricotta recognition has become Zealand, which tastes and stracchino. known as the Covid Label & Litho Drink Outstanding New Business; outstanding!” Champion; Raglan Food Co, Bake ‘n Break for their Cheese Natural Coconut Kefir Drinking Burger Slider Bake. Bake ‘n Break Yoghurt is also from a producer who was born during a Zoom strategy has previously been recognised in the meeting during the first week of level awards. Raglan Food Co was 2020 four lockdown in March 2020. Like Outstanding Sustainability Champion. many businesses, Bake ‘n Break’s This year it was Raglan Food Co’s parent company, The Cater Station new Natural Coconut Kefir Drinking needed to diversify as its catering Yoghurt which was the top drink. business wasn’t trading. Just over a Judges enjoyed the beautiful coconut year later their cheese sliders for an aroma and creamy appearance. Raglan easy home dinner are finding favour Food Co’s Apple & Ginger Kefir – the judges thought it was a “cool Drinking Yoghurt also won a gold concept…great family food”. medal with silver medals awarded to Thirty judges, tasting in 10 panels two other new drinking yoghurts in of three, assessed a record 300 plus their range. food and drink entries from 126 Pathways Hamlin Road Farm producers. Judges tasted products from Range received the Outstanding throughout New Zealand on Saturday Sustainability Award. Every entrant 17 April 2021. The main panels in the Outstanding NZ Food Producer of judges were supported by three Awards is judged for its sustainability specialist sustainability judges, four with these marks included in the cooks and 12 stewards. final total for each entry. This year’s Look out for winning products sustainability judging trio – Emily wearing champion, gold, silver King, Fiona Stephenson and Holly and bronze Outstanding NZ Food Leach said Pathways Hamlin Road Producer Awards medals – a promise Farm “demonstrated how to run a wellof produce made in New Zealand, functioning organic urban farm along which tastes outstanding! n