Three days of judging have culminated in the 2008 Wrest Point Royal Hobart Fine Food Awards. A national judging panel of nearly 40 food specialists, headed by Janet Lillie of Melbourne, assessed more than 800 entries from every Australian state and the ACT.
Now into its 12th year, the 2008 Awards were the biggest ever. Entries were up 50% on the previous best year for entries, in 2006.
Entrants ranged from large food firms to smaller regional producers, and were judged in five Dairy categories, two Preserve categories, and Seafood, Small Goods, Coffee, Ice Cream, Olive Oil, Bread, Cakes, Pies and Pastries, Chocolate and Confectionary, and Any Other Product.
New South Wales food makers took out three of the top awards, Victorians took out two, and Western Australia two. Tasmania’s burgeoning fine food industry impressed the national judges enough to award Tasmanians six of the top awards.
An initiative of the Royal Agricultural Society of Tasmania, the Awards are aimed at developing and promoting the Australian fine food industry through a competitive pursuit of product excellence.
Rose Creek Estate (VIC): Extra Virgin Olive Oil won the Champion Olive Oil.
Full results and a list of all exhibitors can be found at http://www.hobartshowground.com.au
