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Locally made chocolate, pizza kits, kefir, olive oil and smoked fish have all won gold in this year’s Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards.
The five winning producers are Foundry Chocolate from Mahurangi West, Puhoi’s Momojo Kefir, the Matakana Olive Co-operative, Matakana Smokehouse and Perfectly Imperfect Pizza, also from Matakana.
Almost 300 food and drink products were entered in the awards this year, which were judged in Auckland just after Cyclone Gabrielle had struck.
Head judge and Mahurangi Matters food columnist Lauraine Jacobs said that while the awards were one of the most satisfying yet to assess, the storms hit entries and producers hard.
“It wreaked havoc for many of our farmers and food producers and, most unfortunately, meant some outstanding foods could not be included,” she said. “The team of expert and well-qualified judges want to extend sympathy and encouragement to all those affected.”
She said she hoped all those affected could “revive, recover and return to continue to feed our nation” with their food products.
Jacobs added that there were still nearly 300 entries in this year’s awards, including 54 products in the new ‘Free-from’ category – food made and marketed to meet special dietary requirements, such as vegan, gluten-free, carb-free, meat-free or keto.
“The 2023 entries of this, the seventh year of our awards, was one of the most satisfying array to judge to date,” Jacobs said. “I am proud of our food producers and truly honoured to continue to lead a team of outstanding judges to seek New Zealand’s most outstanding foods.”
All Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards gold medal winners are in contention for Category Champion and Special Awards, which will be announced at a party in Auckland on April 18.
Gold Medal winners
Foundry Chocolate: Pinalum, Malekula Island, Vanuatu 70% bar; Soconusco, Chiapas, Mexico 70% bar; Mini Chocolate Eggs – Kilombero Valley, Tanzania 70%; Mini Chocolate Eggs – Pinalum, Malekula Island, Vanuatu 70%.
Momojo Real Kefir: Vanilla, Mango
Matakana Olive Co-operative: Matakana Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Perfectly Imperfect Woodfired Pizza Kits: Vegetable; Meat
Matakana Smokehouse: Cold Smoked Salmon; Hot Smoked Warehou
