Shane McEntee, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with responsibility for Food, Horticulture, and Food Safety has announced two Kilkenny winners of the National Organic Awards 2011 at an awards ceremony in Bord Bia.
The Best Overall Organic Product was awarded to Kitty Colchester from Second Nature Oils, Kilkenny, for her Happy Heart organic garlic flavour Irish rapeseed oil which wowed the independent judging panel for its amazing taste and the inspiring way in which the product has been developed over the last three years.
In addition, Highbank Orchard Syrup from Highbank Orchard, Kilkenny, was awarded a joint prize along with Happy Heart organic garlic flavour Irish rapeseed oil from Second Nature Oils for Best Organic Grocery.
2011 marks the fifth year for the National Organic Awards, organised by Bord Bia, and this year saw a 100 per cent increase in the number of companies entering products. A total of 169 individual products were judged with awards given in eight different categories.
Minister of State Shane McEntee, who presented the awards, took the opportunity to congratulate Bord Bia on its work within the organic sector, which it has been doing for several years, to help develop it into the future.
“These awards have now become recognised as being an important and permanent feature of the organic food and drink industry in this country,” Minister McEntee said. “It is events like this that continue to raise awareness among consumers about what organic food and farming is all about and where they can source organic produce.”
Receiving the award Kitty Colchester from Second Nature Oils said: “I am really honoured to have Happy Heart recognised as a superior organic rapeseed oil product in Ireland. We take great pride in the manufacturing of our fully organic rapeseed oil and the development of the flavoured range was a new departure for us – I’m delighted to see that it has paid off!”
