A total of 49 companies entered over 160 products at the National Organic Awards, an increase in company participation over last year. Judging was carried out by a panel of experts.
A total of 49 companies entered over 160 products at the National Organic Awards, an increase in company participation over last year. Judging was carried out by a panel of experts.
The National Organic Awards are now in their fifth year, and are an important highlight of National Organic Week. The objective of these awards is to recognise the achievements and raise the profile of Irish organic food and drink manufacturers. The focus of National Organic Week is to increase consumer awareness of the benefits of organic food in addition to increasing the frequency of purchasing locally produced organic food.
The Irish organic sector is currently valued at 103 million euro, with 92 per cent of Irish consumers having purchased organic produce in the past 12 months, and over 1.5 million Irish adults having purchased organic food in the last seven days.
Speaking about the National Organic Awards, Chairman of the Judging Panel, Mr Hugo Arnold said:
“This fifth year of The Organic Awards has, once again, shown considerable progress and innovation in the sector. This is particularly welcome at a time of extreme challenges. National Organic Week is a wonderful opportunity to shout loud about the excellent work being done, and is a huge opportunity for anyone considering this route to network and discover the real commitment that lies at the heart of so many excellent products.”
The Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Shane McEntee, TD, presented the Awards at a ceremony hosted by Bord Bia in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
“The awards have now become recognised as being an important and permanent feature of the organic food and drink industry in this country. The objective of these awards is to recognise the achievements and raise the profile of Irish organic food and drink manufacturers,” said the Minister. He also took the opportunity to congratulate Bord Bia on the work that they are currently doing within the organic sector, and have now been doing for several years, to help develop it into the future. As well as being involved in the awards, they are also the main organisers of National Organic Week, of which this is just one of many events.
“National Organic Week is now an important annual event, and continues to raise awareness among consumers about what organic food and farming is all about and where they can source organic produce,” said Mr McEntee. “There is, I believe, a bright future for the Irish organic sector — if we grasp the opportunities. Consumers buy organic food because they see it as healthier and more wholesome. But they are also looking for value for money and for quality. The word organic on the label is no longer enough to guarantee success in an increasingly competitive market. That is why it is so important for the Irish food industry to do what the companies who submitted entries for these Awards are doing — developing quality added-value products using Irish ingredients.”
The Best Overall Organic Product at the awards was Happy Heart Organic Garlic Flavour Irish Rapeseed Oil, from Second Nature Oils in Kilkenny. Crowe’s Farm in Tipperary won an award for their back rashers, while Glenisk in Offaly won an award for their yoghurt.
Source: The Epoch Times – National Organic Awards: Young Families Leading Demand for Quality Irish Produce
