Trust is key to recipe for food success
“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 IFWG chairperson Myles McWeeney at the guild’s annual food awards in Dublin yesterday.
Speaking in the wake of the horsemeat scandal, Mr McWeeney said: “Today is a celebration of the finest Irish food and wonderful artisan pro-ducers. However, as a food writers’ guild, we have a duty to ack-nowledge recent issues relating to the con-tamination 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.
“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 co-operation between different local producers.
“It is these wonderful artisan producers that the IFWG Awards celebrate and honour and they are truly deserving of the highest recognition.
“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 an award at a ceremony and celebration at l’Ecrivain restaurant attended by Ireland’s leading foodies.
From fresh buffalo milk cheese and crackers packed with character, to seeds and syrup and PGI-designated lamb, the winners were feted for their outstanding produce and important contribution to helping retain Ireland’s reputation for quality food production.
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 of Co Meath and Cookies of Character from 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 Ireland’s native varieties of fruit and vegetables.
Derry Clarke, executive chef at l’Ecrivain, created a lunch incorporating all of the award-winning products. Mr McWeeney concluded proceedings by thanking Bord Bia for its continued support of the awards and the work it does for the artisan producers and the industry as a whole, both in Ireland and overseas.
*Rod & Julie Calder-Potts, Highbank Orchards, Co Kilkenny: Highbank Orchard Syrup. For information and stockists, see www.highbankorchards.com
*Kevin & Seamus Sheridan, Sheridans Cheesemongers, Co Meath and
Richard and Jane Graham-Leigh, Cookies of Character, Dunmanway, Co Cork. A joint award was presented to Sheridans Cheesemongers and Cookies of Character for their range of crackers. See www.sheridanscheesemongers.com and www.regale.ie
*Toby Simmonds, Toons Bridge Dairy, Macroom, Co Cork, for Toons Bridge Dairy Buffalo Mozzarella Cheese
*Connemara Hill Lamb Ltd, Connemara, Co Galway for Connemara Hill Lamb. For information and stockists, see www.connemarahilllamb.ie
*Irish Seed Savers Association, Scariff, Co Clare. Environmental Award
