Garlic Entries Open for the 2020 Australian Food Awards

Australia’s leading national food awards program, the Australian Food Awards (AFA), is encouraging garlic producers to submit their premium product as part of the 2020 Awards.

Conducted annually by The Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria (RASV), the Australian Food Awards celebrate excellence and recognise the best producers of premium food across the country. 

RASV CEO Brad Jenkins said the garlic section of the Australian Food Awards is a great recognition of Australian garlic growers.

“The Australian Food Awards is a truly national brand that provides small, medium and large producers with the opportunity to benchmark their products and receive invaluable feedback from industry experts,” said Mr Jenkins

Whilst the Australian Food Awards main program will commence in July, the seasonal nature of garlic means the Awards open early only for garlic growers, ensuring garlic is judged at its best and freshest.

Australia’s garlic season runs from September through to late January, and entries for garlic close on Friday 7 February 2020. 

“We are proud to acknowledge and promote the best of Australian garlic. With the support of producers from all six states, the Australian Food Awards gives growers the opportunity to leverage their success locally and internationally through the Australian Food Awards seal of excellence,” Mr Jenkins said.

The Australian Food Awards presents gold, silver and bronze medals, as well as champion trophies to producers across 10 overarching categories, including Dairy, Meat, Seafood, Produce, Beverages, Pantry Goods and Convenience Foods.

Thrilled with winning Best in Class for garlic at the 2019 Australian Food Awards, Wildes Lane, Moyston, Victoria were excited that their Dunganski garlic (standard purple stripe), was recognised as high quality.

“Entering high profile benchmarking competitions such as the Australian Food Awards keeps us current, stimulates brand-awareness in the marketplace and shows we’re actively striving for quality across a broad range of parameters,” stated owner Anna King.

The 2020 garlic judging is overseen by Head Judge Penny Woodward. Ms Woodward has been head judge of garlic with the Australian Food Awards since the Awards’ inception in 2016 and her experience, not only as a judge, but as a specialist in the industry, is well respected and much sought after.

“I am excited to be head judge of the 2020 Australian Food Awards (AFA) garlic judging. It is a privilege to provide feedback to our producers that work hard to provide some of the highest quality garlic in the world,” Ms Woodward said.

Ms Woodward was proud that the Australian Food Awards is Australia’s only national food program that recognises and celebrate garlic.

“Garlic has such a diverse flavour profile and I’m sure all of the judges are excited to sample and score from the different groups including Creoles, Silverskins, Marbled Purple Stripes, Standard Purple Stripes and Rocamboles, as well as the more common Turbans and Artichokes,” Ms Woodward said.

“2019 has provided some good and some difficult growing conditions. Dry conditions in late spring are always better for garlic than heavy rain, but some regions have been very dry. We can’t wait to see the quality that Australia’s talented garlic producers provide us,” said Ms Woodward.

With judging to take place on Wednesday 19 February 2020 in Melbourne, garlic producers are encouraged to get their entries in early to be part of this prestigious program.

Entries for the competition close on Friday 7 February 2020. For more information or to enter online visit www.rasv.com.au/australian-food-awards.