Organic Food Award Winners 2012
05 September 2012
The winners of the Soil Association Organic Food Awards 2012 have been announced as part of this year’s Organic September, Europe’s biggest celebration of all things organic. [1] Now in their 24th year, the Soil Association Organic Food Awards recognise and celebrate the highest quality organic food and drink. The awards are among the most prestigious and widely respected in the UK food sector.
The list includes well-known brands alongside products from smaller businesses and family-run farms, showing the diversity and scope of organic production. Please see notes below for a full list of winners plus contact details. [2]
Over three days at the Duke of Cambridge organic pub in London, an expert judging panel of food critics, restaurateurs, broadcasters and chefs, including Hardeep Singh Kohli and Jo Wood, sipped, nibbled and crunched their way through over 500 products across 34 categories, - from poultry, preserves and pies to cheese, chocolate and baby food.
Judging in all categories was by blind tasting, with products rated according to smell, texture, appearance, taste and overall 'yumminess'.
This year the special dairy award for Best Organic Dairy goes to Acorn Dairy, Darlington. They were judged on extra criteria including farm management, conservation, animal welfare and community involvement, as well as taste.
The awards are open to all organic food and drink products that are certified by a recognised certifier within the EU. Winners gain industry respect and are able to use the recognised and trusted awards logo on their products.
Finn Cottle, Soil Association Certification Trade consultant, said:
“These awards showcase the best of organic food and drink and the high quality of products within this market. As the organic market returns to growth, this is a great time to encourage wider availability of these products so that more people can enjoy them.”
Geetie Singh, owner of the Duke of Cambridge organic pub where the awards were hosted, commented:
“I have been hosting these awards for the last five years and I think this was one of our best years yet. A wonderful array of products were entered which were a pleasure to judge, from baby food to beer.”
Hardeep Singh Kohli, writer, broadcaster, comedian, food ambassador for Scotland and Organic Food Awards judge, said:
“It was heartening to taste so many high quality organic products. It seems that progress and innovation in organic food and drink are on an upward trajectory. For me, food is about passion, joy, laughter and love and I certainly had a lot of fun judging this year. I’ve never eaten so many eggs in my life!”
Jo Wood, lifestyle guru and Organic Food Awards judge, said:
“I love being one of the judges at the Organic Food Awards each year. It is a great reassurance to see continuing innovation in the organic food industry and the choice of organic produce getting better and better. If we grow food from healthy soil, then we naturally have a healthy organic chemical free diet, both of which go in unison towards living a more sustainable life.”
Ends
For more information please contact the Soil Association press office:
Josh Stride, press & e-communications officer – 0117 314 5170 / 07717 802 183
press@soilassociation.org
Notes to editor:
About the Soil Association
The Soil Association was founded in 1946 by farmers, scientists, doctors and nutritionists to promote the connection between the health of the soil, food, people and the environment. Today the Soil Association is the UK's leading membership charity campaigning for healthy, humane and sustainable food, farming and land use. To find out more please visit: www.soilassociation.org
Follow us on Twitter and ‘like’ us on Facebook:
@soilassociation / www.facebook.com/soilassociation
A selection of recipes using some of the winning products are available on the Soil Association’s Fundraising Feast recipe pages - www.soilassociation.org/organicfeast
[1] Organic September
Europe’s biggest celebration of all things organic will be taking place throughout September, brought to you by the Soil Association – the UK’s leading membership charity campaigning for healthy, humane and sustainable food, farming and land use. Watch out for events up and down the country on organic farms, in shops, schools, and restaurants and on a high street near you. To find out more please visit: www.soilassociation.org/organicseptember
[2] Please see the full list of winners below plus contact details. Please do not print contact details publically unless you have permission. More detailed profiles are available at: www.soilassociation.org/foodawards
Best Organic Dairy
Caroline Tweddle - Acorn Dairy
caroline@acorndairy.co.uk / 01325 466999 / www.acorndairy.co.uk
Baby Food - joint winners:
Debbie Roberts – Organix - Organix Goodies Carrot Cake Soft Oaty Bars
debbie.roberts@organix.com / 01202 586 118 / www.organix.com
Sarah Larkin - So Baby Organics - Butternut Squash & Orange Puree
info@so-baby.co.uk / 01829 772 555 / 07887 503 486 / www.so-baby.co.uk
Beef
Jo and Tim Budden - Higher Hacknell Farm - South Devon Organic Beef
info@higherhacknell.co.uk / 01769 560 909 / 07813 797 226 / www.higherhacknell.co.uk
Beer – three joint winners:
Greg Pilley - Stroud Brewery - Big Cat, Organic Stout and Maris Otter Vintage Ale 2011
greg@stroudbrewery.co.uk / 01453 887 122 / 07712 658 316 / www.stroudbrewery.co.uk
David Gladwin - Black Isle brewery - Black Isle goldeneye
djg@blackislebrewery.com / 01463 811 871 / 07740 677 056 / www.blackislebrewery.com
Bread and Flour
Camilla Wilson – Daylesford - Daylesford Fruit Bread
camilla.wilson@daylesfordorganic.com / 07770 953 199 / www.daylesfordorganic.com
David Bent – Friends of Green’s Mill - 100% Organic Stoneground Wholemeal flour
david.bent@nottinghamcity.gov.uk / 0115 9156878 / www.greensmill.org.uk
Cakes and Morning Goods – joint winners
Charlotte Griffin - Rude Health - Morning Glory Porridge and The Granola
charlotte@rudehealth.com / 07909 035 657 / www.rudehealth.com
Cheese – joint winners
Graham Padfield – Bath Soft Cheese – Wyfe of Bath cheese
sales@parkfarm.co.uk / 01225 331601 / www.parkfarm.co.uk
Mark Hardy - High Weald Dairy – Sussex Slipcote cheese
mark@highwealddairy.co.uk / 01825 791636 / www.highwealddairy.co.uk
Chocolate and Confectionary
Claire Foreman - The Booja-Booja Company - Raspberry Ecuadorian Chocolate Truffles and Hazelnut Crunch Chocolate Truffles
claire@boojabooja.com / 01508 557 901 / www.boojabooja.com
Cold Beverages
Hannah Amos - Luscombe Organic Drinks - Sicilian Lemonade
hannah.amos@wildcard.co.uk / 0787 530 8880 / www.luscombe.co.uk
Dairy
Tali Eichner – Old Plaw Hatch Farm – Live Biodynamic Yoghurt
info@plawhatchfarm.co.uk / 07840 542365 / www.tablehurstandplawhatch.co.uk/Plawhatch.html
Desserts and puddings
Claire Foreman - The Booja-Booja Company - Hunky Punky Chocolate Alternative to Dairy Ice Cream
claire@boojabooja.com / 01508 557 901 / www.boojabooja.com
Eggs
Harry Hodgson - Piercebridge Farm – Eggs
admin@piercebridgefarm.co.uk / 01325 374 251 / www.harryseggs.co.uk
Hot Beverages - joint winners
Rebecca Vercoe - Clipper Teas Ltd – Clipper Fairtrade Organic Earl Grey Loose
rebecca.vercoe@clipper-teas.com / 01308 863 344 / www.clipper-teas.com
Kate Popham - Canton Tea co - Organic Canton Karma
kate@cantonteaco.com / 0845 519 5575 / www.cantonteaco.com
Lamb - joint winners
Sam Phillips - Macaroni Farm - Leg of Lamb
sam@macaronifarm.co.uk / 01367 850 237 / www.macaronifarm.co.uk
Jane Kallaway - Langley Chase Organic Farm - Manx Loaghtan Mutton
post@langleychase.co.uk / 01249 750 095 / www.langleychase.co.uk
Oils and Vinegars
Steve Hasler - Viridian Nutrition - Raw Organic Coconut Oil
steve.h@viridian-nutrition.com / 01327 878 050 / www.viridian-nutrition.com
Pasta and Rice
Leona McDonald - Sharpham Park - Organic Pearled Spelt
leona@sharphampark.com / 01458 844 080 / 07541 088 691 / www.sharphampark.com
Pies, pizzas, pasties - joint winners
Ian Jalland – Brocklebys - Organic Picnic Pork Pie, 190g
ian.jalland@btconnect.com / 01664 813 200 / 07816 178 583 / www.brocklebys.co.uk
Amanda Whittington – Riverford – Riverford’s organic homity pie
amandawhittington@riverford.co.uk / 01803 762 087 / www.riverford.co.uk
Poultry
Robert Tate - Back to the Garden - Astley Estate - Whole Chicken
rob@back-to-the-garden.co.uk / 01263 715 996 / 07879 218 981 / www.back-to-the-garden.co.uk
Pork
Jayne Duveen - Hophurst Farm - Hophurst Farm Pork
jayne@jacobsladderfarms.co.uk / 07565 303 559 / www.jacobsladderfarms.co.uk
Ready Meals
Camilla Wilson – Daylesford - Pea & Mint Soup
camilla.wilson@daylesfordorganic.com / 07770 953 199 / www.daylesfordorganic.com
Salad
Jan Billington - Maddocks Farm Organics - Organic Herb Salad
maddocksfarmorganics@gmail.com / 07935 268 744 / www.maddocksfarmorganics.co.uk
Sauces and Ingredients
Lyn Seymour - Hambleden Herbs - Khmeli Suneli seasoning mix
lyn@hambledenherbs.com / 01980 630 721 / www.hambledenherbs.com
Savoury Preserves
Sue McIntosh - 3V Natural Foods Ltd - Meridian Organic Almond Butter
sue.mcintosh@3vnaturalfoods.com / 01962 761 935 ex.121
/ www.3vnaturalfoods.com
Soya and Free From - joint winners
Amanda Robson - Dragonfly Foods - Organic Vegetable Beany
amandarobson@dragonflyfoods.com / 01364 642 700 / 07813 532 666 / www.dragonflyfoods.com
Yvonne Sedlaczek - Life Food GmbH – Basil Tofu
info@taifun-tofu.de / +49 761 15210 71 / www.taifun-tofu.de/en
Sweet Preserves
Lindsay Girvan - Grow Wild Limited - Seville Orange Marmalade
accounts@growwild.co.uk / 01506 656 544 / 07717 793 604 / www.growwild.co.uk
Sweet Snacks
Matt Watts - Doves Farm Foods - Organic Fruity Oat Biscuits
mwatts@dovesfarm.co.uk / 01488 684 880 / www.dovesfarm.co.uk
Savoury Snacks
Sybille Wilkinson – Gilchesters Organics – Original spelt biscuits
info@gilchesters.com / 01661 886 119 / www.gilchesters.com
Vegetables
Claudia Ruane - Abel & Cole – Stripy Aubergine produced by Adrian Izzard
claudia.ruane@abelandcole.co.uk / 020 8944 3752 / www.abelandcole.co.uk
Wine - joint winners
Jem Gardener - Vincermos Organic Wines - Inzolia 'Era' 2011, Cantine Volpi and Shiraz-Malbec, Temple Bruer
jem@vinceremos.co.uk / 0113 244 0002 / 0776 419 6463 / www.vinceremos.co.uk