National Organic Awards

The National Organic Awards, held every two years in association with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The event marks a true celebration of the best of Irish Organic food as a wide selection of produce from all over the country are represented in the awards.

Bord Bia 2018 National Organic Awards

The 2018 National Organic Awards took place on October 10^th in the Bord Bia head office.

Following rigorous judging of over 200 entries, six organic food companies were selected as overall category winners. Awards were presented in categories including foodservice, retail, direct sales, innovation and export, and a new category to the competition in 2018 – The Business in the Community Award.

The Minister of State for the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Andrew Doyle TD said, “The quality of Irish organic produce entered for these awards highlights once again that Irish organic food is of a high quality and can readily compete on the world stage. Today is a celebration of the achievements of these individual companies and Irish organic food and drink as a whole. It’s a sector with a bright future and before the end of this year we will be publishing the strategy for its future development to the year 2025.”

Wexford-based Irish Country Meats, was the recipient of the Overall Award, which was accepted on behalf of the company by Managing Director, Joe Hyland. “We are absolutely thrilled to receive this award today,” he said. “We take great pride in being the leading innovators and organic ambassadors in the lamb space in Europe but to be recognised in the home market in this way means a lot to us.” Irish Country Meats also took the Retail Award for its Good Herdsmen Organic Half Leg of Lamb. “The product was developed and marketed to meet with a new dynamic opportunity driven by consumer demand for an organic option,” said Mr. Hyland.

The MC for the 2018 event was journalist and broadcaster, Helen Carroll and the awards were presented by Minister of State for the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Andrew Doyle TD. This year’s judging panel included Evan Doyle, owner of The Brooklodge Hotel, Aughrim, Co. Wicklow; Frank Bardet – Sourcing Director for Biocoop France; Dr. Oliver Moore, Irish Examiner Journalist, and Gillian Nelis, Food Writer with The Sunday Business Post.

Shortlist for the 2018 National Organic Awards

Chefs’ Choice Award

Regan Organic Produce Whole Duck – Enniscorthy, Co.Wexford
Irish Country Meats Organic Lamb Burger – Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford
Riversfield Organic Farm Cherry Tomato Mix – Callan, Co. Kilkenny

Retail Award

Good Herdsmen Organic Half Leg of Lamb – Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford
Dunnes Stores Organic Irish Heirloom Tomatoes, produced by Marc Michel Organic Life- Kilpedder, Co. Wicklow
Mulberry Meadow Farm Living Oriental Organic Salad – Listinny, Co. Monaghan
Mulberry Meadow Farm My Organics Supergreen Mix – Listinny, Co. Monaghan
Wrights of Howth Irish Organic Smoked Salmon – Howth, Co. Dublin

Direct Selling Award

Highbank Organic Orchards & Distillery Sack No 3 Pommeau 2016 – Cuffesgrange, Co. Kilkenny
Ballinrostig Organic Cheese Nettle and Garlic Cream Cheese – Whitegate, Co. Cork
Ballymore Organic Farm Stoneground Wholemeal flour – Ballymore Eustace, Co. Kildare

Export Award

Burren Smokehouse Smoked Irish Organic Salmon with Seaweed – Lisdoonvarna, Co. Clare
The Little Milk Company Organic Cashel Blue – Dungarvan, Co. Waterford / (Cashel Blue Cheese makers - Tipperary)
Golden Irish Organic Eggs – Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan

New & Innovative Product

The Merry Mill Organic Gluten Free Oat Flour – Vicarstown, Co. Laois
Highbank Organic Orchards & Distillery Apple Balsamic Vinegar - Cuffesgrange, Co. Kilkenny
Beechlawn Organic Farm Curly Kale in compostable bio bag – Ballinasloe Co. Galway

Business in the Community

Dunany Organic Farm Flour – Togher, Co. Louth
Slí Eile Housing Community Organic Farm – Mallow, Co. Cork
Green Earth Organics Irish Veg Box – Corrandulla, Co. Galway