Ireland: National Organic Award winners 2012

The Irish Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Shane McEntee has announced the winners of the National Organic Awards 2012 at an awards ceremony in Bord Bia. The Best Overall Organic Product was awarded to Crowe’s Farm for its Organic Dry Cure Back Rasher product which was chosen for its high quality, superior taste and smart packaging.

This year was the sixth year of the National Organic Awards, which take place during National Organic Week in September each year. Organised by Bord Bia, over 100 entries were received and awards were given in eight different categories. (Picture: Shane McEntee and Tara McCarthy, Director Food & Beverage Division, Bord Bia presented TJ (right) and John Paul Crowe (left) from Crowe’s Farm in Tipperary with the award)

The winners of the National Organic Award 2012 are:

Overall Winner/ Best Organic Meat: Organic Dry Cure Back Rashers, Crowe’s Farm, Dundrum, Co. Tipperary
Best Organic Fruit & Vegetable: Irish Organic Potatoes, Keogh’s, Oldtown, Co. Dublin
Best Organic Fresh Seafood Product: Irish Organic Sea Trout, Irish Seafood Producers Group, Connemara, Co. Galway
Best Organic Grocery: Organic Jumbo Oats, Kilbeggan Organic Foods, Westmeath
Best Organic Dairy Product: Organic No Added Sugar Vanilla Kids Yoghurt, Glenisk, Killeigh, Offaly
Best Organic Prepared Food: Smoked Irish Organic Salmon, Burren Smokehouse, Co. Clare
Best Organic Beverage (Alcoholic & Non-Alcoholic): Bloom Mountain Organic Irish Cream Liquer, First Ireland Spirits Co. Ltd, Abbeyleix, Co. Laois
Best Organic Confectionery & Baked Good: Wilkies Dark Chocolate, Wilkie Chocolate, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin

National Organic Week 2012 promotes Ireland’s organic sector with organic producers, retailers and farmers markets nationwide hosting events including organic farm walks, cookery demonstrations, BBQs, harvest feasts, complimentary in store tastings and talks. (Picture: Kids at the launch event)

There are currently 1,692 registered organic operators in Ireland with 52,390 hectares of land being used to produce organic foods which include meat, seafood, fruit, vegetables, eggs, grains, cereals, nuts, seeds, dairy products, drinks and cooking oils. More information is available here: http://www.bordbia.ie/