Producers of the country’s finest boutique foods recently put their best offerings before a panel of sharp-toothed judges looking for the most delicious in each category. Buying products displaying an ONZFPA medal logo is a guarantee of New Zealand-made quality and enjoyment.

“With more entries than ever before, the judges’ task becomes harder with each competition year by year,” says head judge and food icon Lauraine Jacobs of the mammoth two-day judging challenge that underpins the annual Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards.

“Fortuitously, it’s also a source of endless discovery and delight as we taste our way through the more than 300 submitted products. The testing venue sometimes rings with squeals of surprise at both the incredible flavours and the wide range of innovative and traditional entries.”

Lauraine says the judges noted the quality and flavours of New Zealand’s fine grass-fed and raised meat this year. “We were also delighted to see the distant Chatham Island Food Co entering products again. The Pāua Pie was made in collaboration with the West Coast Pie Company, and it was mouth-watering in a dainty flaky pastry and especially notable.”

She says the judging process sets a high bar, and there were many products, especially when fresh and straight from the farm or ocean, where the judges felt the growers and farmers had reached perfection.

NZ Life & Leisure Taste editor Lucy also noted the array of entries with more than 30 drinks (immunity boosters, kefir, non-alcoholic drinks), a large sauce and condiment category, and meats ranging from goat, chicken, lamb, beef and pork to goat bacon.

OUTSTANDING NZ FOOD PRODUCER AWARDS CHAMPIONS

Supreme Champion: Pure Pāua, Chatham Island Food Co, Chatham Islands
Giesen Paddock Co-Champion: Organic Free-Range Marinated Butterfly Chicken, Bostock Brothers Organic Free-Range Chicken, Hawke’s Bay
Giesen Paddock Co-Champion: Lamb Short Ribs, Middlehurst Delivered, Upper Awatere Valley
Emerson’s Dairy Champion: Marinated Cloud Fresh Goat Cheese in Oil, Nieuwenhuis Farmstead Cheese, Te Hauke
Seafood New Zealand Water Champion: Pure Pāua, Chatham Island Food Co, Chatham Islands
Farro Earth Champion: Uncut Raw Comb Honey of Aotearoa, J. Friend & Co, Christchurch
Label & Litho Drink Champion: Hill Road Orange Juice, Hill Road Orchard, Gisborne

SPECIAL AWARDS

NZ Life & Leisure Spirit of New Zealand Award: Akaroa Salmon, Akaroa
Outstanding Sustainability Award: Bostock Brothers Organic Free-Range Chicken, Hawke’s Bay
FMCG Business Outstanding New Product: Nut Brothers Peanut Butter Probiotic & Cranberry, Auckland
Outstanding Free-From: Robbies Artisan Collection Noir Gärlik, Black Garlic Sauce Gluten Free, Gore
Emerging Business: Opito Bay Salt Co, Opito Bay
Fresh Produce Champion: Salty River Farm Baby Leaf Lettuce with Edible Flowers, Wellsford

PEOPLE’S CHOICE

Coast Kiwis’ Favourite Food Producer: Matangi Angus Beef, Hawke’s Bay
Coast Kiwis’ Favourite Farmers’ Market: Otago Farmers Market, Dunedin

Find the the full list of gold, silver and bronze medallists here.

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