SPURRELL Foraging Native and Seasonal Edible Plants in Victoria has won the top horticulture trophy at the 2019 Delicious. Harvey Norman Produce Awards, one of the country's most prestigious food industry events.
Now in its 14th year, the awards celebrate the country's new, innovative, native and consistently outstanding Australian ingredients grown, caught, sourced or produced with dedication, passion, knowledge and regard for the environment.
Hand picked fresh and delivered the same day, Spurrell Foraging assists chefs to create "with all things edible, wild and weedy".
The large, varied range of edible herbs are seasonally chosen for their flavour and textures.
The gold medallists in the "From the Earth" category were:
- Malfroy's Gold Blue Mountains World Heritage Post Brood
- Polyflora Wild Honey NSW
- Moonacres Farm Seasonal Fresh Produce (Selection of Best in Field) NSW
- Mushroom Forestry Shiitake Mushrooms ViC
- Newcastle Greens Calvin Lamborn Snap Green Varietals NSW
- Ngeringa Produce Biodynamic Salad Greens SA
- Tuerong Farm Premium Stoneground Flour ViC
Seventeen awards, 16 trophies, and 30 gold medals were presented, with each of the winners across the four major categories -From the Dairy, From the Earth, From the Paddock and From the Sea - decided by the national judging panel.
Delicious. editor-in-chief Kerrie McCallum said the awards not only influence what is seen on restaurant menus for the next year to come, but most importantly gives credit to the people who care for the produce that lands on plates.
"It has never been more important to get behind our farmers and small producers," Ms McCallum said.
RELATED READING
"They need our help. I thank all of the judges for the time and passion they give to these awards, and congratulations to this year's winners. "
Harvey Norman executive chairman, Gerry Harvey, said fresh produce was everything.
"If it is locally grown, even better. Our quality of life depends on the skill and experience of our producers - without them our markets, restaurants, supermarkets and kitchen tables are empty," Mr Harvey said.
"Our economy and Australian way of life depends on the extraordinary contribution of our producers."
The awards not only champion the best Australian produce but also the people behind it, thanks to a network of food industry experts who nominate outstanding produce and producers from all over Australia.
This year's judges included Maggie Beer, Matt Moran, Guillaume Brahimi, Peter Gilmore, Christine Manfield, Alla Wolf-Tasker, Shannon Bennett, Andrew McConnell, Colin Fassnidge and Neil Perry.
Mr Perry said it was an honour to be a part of the Delicious. Harvey Norman Produce Awards national judging panel.
"The calibre of produce this year was nothing short of incredible, making the task of judging especially difficult," he said.
"It is always wonderful to see innovative producers dedicated to creating outstanding produce that is not only world-class but sustainable on the environment from which it grows and depends."
Other winners included:
FROM THE DAIRY - TROPHY WINNER
- Pecora Dairy Raw Milk Feta NSW
FROM THE DAIRY - GOLD MEDALISTS
- Bruny Island Cheese Co. Raw Milk c2 TAS
- Burraduc Farm DolceNina Fresh Buffalo Curd NSW
- Elgaar Farm Fresh Organic Milk TAS
- L'Artisan Cheese Marcel VIC
- Mungalli Creek Pot Set Bio-dynamic Natural Yoghurt QLD
- Prom Country Cheese Venus Blue VIC
FROM THE PADDOCK - TROPHY WINNER
- Eugowra Game Birds Pastured Quail NSW
FROM THE PADDOCK - GOLD MEDALISTS
- Brooklands Free Range Farms 100% Grass Fed British White Beef VIC
- Grassland Poultry Sommerlad Chicken NSW
- Mayura Station Full-blood Wagyu Beef SA
- Saskia Beer Farm Produce Chicken SA
- Sher Wagyu F1 Black Label Ribeye VIC
- Taluca Park Pasture Raised Rare Breed Pork NSW
- The Farm House Margaret River Arkady Lamb WA
- Torello Veal Rosé Veal NSW
FROM THE SEA - TROPHY WINNER
- Chris Bolton Fishing Wild Red Emperor QLD
FROM THE SEA - GOLD MEDALISTS
- Bruce Collis Seasonal Wild Caught Fish VIC
- Collison Reef Fish Coral Trout QLD
- Fraser Isle Spanner Crab QLD
- Murray Gold Australia Murray Gold Cod NSW
- Rocky Point Aquaculture Giant Grouper QLD
- Tathra Oysters Nelson Lake 5 Year Old Sydney Rock Oysters NSW
- The Oyster Province Native Wild Angasi Oysters TAS
- Two Gulfs Crab Blue Swimmer Crab SA
- Walker Seafoods Australia MSC Certified Swordfish QLD
- Wapengo Rocks Wild Organic Rock Oysters NSW
BEST NEW PRODUCT
- Tuerong Farm Premium Stoneground Flour VIC
PRODUCER OF THE YEAR PRESENTED BY HARVEY NORMAN
- Bruce Collis Seasonal Wild Caught Fish VIC
IN THE BOTTLE PRESENTED BY QANTAS WINE
- Hartshorn Sheep Whey Vodka TAS
OUTSTANDING VITICULTURIST
- Melissa Brown Gemtree Wines SA
OUTSTANDING FARMERS' MARKET - FINALISTS
- Margaret River Farmers' Market WA
- Mullumbimby Farmers' Market NSW
- Willunga Farmers Market SA
OUTSTANDING FARMERS' MARKET - TROPHY WINNER
- Willunga Farmers Market SA
OUTSTANDING DESIGN PRESENTED BY QT HOTELS AND RESORTS
- Tracey Deep Floral Sculpture Artist
OUTSTANDING REGION PRESENTED BY HUON SALMON
- Scenic Rim QLD
OUTSTANDING INNOVATION, SUSTAINABILITY AND COMMUNITY PRESENTED BY THANKFUL
- Charlie Arnott
UNEARTHED NEXT-GEN CHEF
- Alanna Sapwell ARC Dining QLD
OUTSTANDING NATIVE PRODUCER
- Clarence Slockee and Christian Hampson, Yerrabingin NSW
OUTSTANDING ARTISAN
- Leo Gelsomino Lello Pasta Bar VIC
THE ALLA WOLF-TASKER GOOD FOOD MATTERS SCHOLARSHIP
- The Oyster Province TAS
MAGGIE BEER AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO AUSTRALIAN FOOD
- Joost Bakker
