A team of industry experts has announced the 20 companies that are shortlisted across seven categories for the upcoming National Organic Awards, in association with Bord Bia and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
The National Organic Awards, which mark the achievements of Irish organic food and drink growers and manufacturers who create excellent quality organic products in Ireland, will take place at Bord Bia’s Dublin headquarters on Thursday, 13th October.
Commenting on this year’s Awards, Mary Morrissey, Senior Manager in Bord Bia’s Food and Beverage Division said ‘in addition to a record 278 entries, we are delighted to see that the quality and diversity of the products continues to go from strength to strength each year. The judges had a difficult task in shortlisting the finalists showing the dedication of Irish organic food producers with the awards offering a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the best the industry has to offer.’
This year’s prestigious judging panel included JP McMahon, Michelin-starred chef from Aniar restaurant, Co.Galway; freelance journalists Suzanne Campbell and Oliver Moore; Alan Kinnear, International Buying Manager, Ocado, UK online retailer; Al Overton, Head of Buying, Planet Organic, UK’s largest fully certified organic supermarket; Lisa Garrett, Innovation Chef with Le Pain Quotidien restaurant, based in Kildare Village and finally, Evan Doyle, Owner The BrookLodge Hotel, Macreddin Village, Aughrim, Co. Wicklow.
2016 National Organic Awards Shortlist
1. Best Fresh Product
| Company | Product | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Rathlir Farm | Hens’ Eggs | Clare |
| Mossfield Organic Farm | Yoghurt | Offaly |
| The Organic Centre, Rossinver | Organic Salad Bag | Leitrim |
2. Innovation Award
| Company | Product | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Mulberry Meadow Organic Farm | My Organics Living Salad - Salad Bowl Mix | Monaghan |
| The Little Milk Company | Cream Cheese with Basil Pesto | Waterford |
| This is Seaweed | Dulse Flakes | Dublin |
| Algaran Teo | Organic Irish Dukkah with Dulse seaweed and chilli | Donegal |
3. Best Prepared Product
| Company | Product | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Blakes Always Organic | Culture Blend Coffee | Leitrim |
| Burren Smokehouse Ltd. | Burren Smoked Irish Organic Salmon Cold Smoked | Clare |
| Just Food | Just Food Organic Winter Minestrone meal Soup | Cork |
4. Direct Selling Award
| Company | Product | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Bluebell Organic Farm | Gooseberry & Seaweed Chutney | Leitrim |
| Green Earth Organics | 100% Irish Veg Box | Galway |
| North Mayo Heritage Centre | Onions red & white | Mayo |
5. Best New Product
| Company | Product | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Mulberry Meadow Organic Farm | Frozen Wheatgrass | Monaghan |
| Ummera Smoked Products Ltd. | Smoked Organic Picanha Beef | Cork |
| Dunnes Stores | Dunnes Stores Irish Organic Cherry Tomato Shaker Cup | Dublin |
6. Export Award
| Company | Product | Location |
|---|---|---|
| E. Flahavan & Sons | Flahavan's Irish Organic Porridge Oats 1Kg | Waterford |
| Second Nature Oils | Second Nature Oils Bee Friendly Cold Pressed Organic Rapeseed Oil | Kilkenny |
| Good Herdsmen | Irish Organic Beef exports (represented by Irish Organic Angus skin packed steaks for Dennree) | Tipperary |
7. Chefs’ Choice
| Company | Product | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Highbank orchards | Orchard Syrup | Kilkenny |
| Mossfield Organic Farm | Mossfield Cumin Seed Cheese | Offaly |
| The Organic Chocolate Factory | 70% organic cooking chocolate | Cork |