TRUST & INNOVATION – THE TWO KEY INGREDIENTS IN GREAT IRISH FOOD
Irish Food Writers’ Guild Food Award Winners Announced
Trust has become one of the most important ingredients in food production in Ireland today, according to the Irish Food Writers’ Guild (IFWG). “If we can’t have full faith in what is on the label, the reputation of the food sector in Ireland could be seriously jeopardised,” said Chairperson of the IFWG Myles McWeeney, who was speaking at the Guild’s annual Food Awards which took place in February, in Dublin.
But the good news is that when you buy from indigenous, Irish producers, you can be assured that their products are fully traceable, that the raw materials will have travelled a relatively short distance and oftentimes, that the product is as a result of cooperation between different local producers. Myles McWeeney Irish Food Writers Guild
“It is these wonderful artisan producers that the Irish Food Writers’
Guild Food Awards celebrate and honour and they are truly deserving of
the highest recognition,” said Myles. “Thankfully, in terms of artisan
food produce, the future of the food industry is in great hands. Each
of today’s award-winners in their own way represents the can-do spirit
of innovation that characterises this dynamic sector.”
Six Irish food companies were presented with a much-coveted IFWG Food Award at a ceremony and industry celebration at l’Ecrivain restaurant, attended by Ireland’s leading ‘foodies’.
From fresh cheese made from buffalo milk and crackers packed with character, to seeds and syrup and PGI designated lamb, the winners represent the very best of Irish and were awarded for their outstanding produce and important contribution to helping retain Ireland’s reputation, at home and abroad.
The
2013 winners are Rod & Julie Calder-Potts, Highbank Orchards (Co
Kilkenny) for Highbank Orchard Syrup; Toby Simmonds, Toons Bridge Dairy
(Co Cork) for Toons Bridge Dairy Buffalo Mozzarella Cheese and Connemara
Hill Lamb Ltd., (Co Galway). A joint award was presented to Sheridans
Cheesemongers (Co Meath) and Cookies of Character (Co Cork) for their
range of cheese crackers.
An environmental award was presented to Co Clare-based Irish Seed Savers Association, for its dedicated work in preserving native varieties of fruit and vegetables.
Myles McWeeney continued, “Today is a celebration of the finest Irish food and wonderful artisan producers. However, as a food writers’ guild, we have a duty to acknowledge recent issues relating to the contamination of processed meat products and we urge immediate action on labelling and transparency, not just in Ireland but right across the EU.
“We
welcome the Irish government’s recent response, but we have to act now
to protect the hard-earned reputation of the majority of food companies,
large and small, in what is one of Ireland’s most important export
industries.”
