Australia’s lead organic body Australian Organic Ltd (AOL) last week hosted its 4th Annual Awards for Excellence on Friday 17th November, at The National Wine Centre in Adelaide.
Coming together as an industry to celebrate the contribution Australia’s leading certified businesses make to the organic industry – and in turn to the Australian economy and our environment – the awards were attended by former senator Nick Xenophon, a long-time supporter of the organics industry.
The Annual Awards for Excellence recognises finalists from all over the Australia and across a broad spectrum of categories including cosmetics, business, innovation, beverage and food. This year, the Australian Government Department of Industry, Innovation and Science sponsored the Innovative Product of the Year Category and for the first time ever, AOL launched a new category for Certified Organic wine of the Year.
A national survey conducted last year revealed that organic food has a firm foothold in Aussie shopping baskets, with more than two out of three households purchasing organic products in the last year. Rhiannon Christie, communications and marketing manager of Australian Organic, believes this is a key contributing factor to the scale and quality of produce we are experiencing in Australia right now.
“The industry is alive and booming. Earlier this year we revealed our country officially holds the largest amount of organically managed farmland in the world at 53%, so it’s no surprise that the calibre of entrants was at an all-time high this year,” said Christie.
Having recently announced a new structure within the organics industry to become a standalone, member-owned, not-for-profit industry services group, this year was particularly special for AOL as it marks 30 years since the group was established (originally formed as Biological Farmers of Australia Co-Op).
“We are thrilled about the launch of the new structure because it will allow us to unify under one national standard through industry collaboration. It means we can continue to educate consumers on the benefits of organics and truly champion the industry more broadly through lobbying, advocacy and inclusion”, said General Manager Australian Organic, Emily Arnold.
The 2017 Annual Awards for Excellence winners were:
- Young Organic Leader – Daniel Quattrocchi of Monika’s Organics
- Food Product of the Year – Organic Hotdogs (Cleaver’s)
- Export Market Leader – Hakubaku
- Cosmetic of the Year – Aika Skincare Range (Aika Wellness)
- Non-Alcoholic Beverage of the Year – Organic Biodegradable Nespresso Capsules (Republica Organic)
- Alcoholic Beverage of the Year – Antipodes Gin Co
- Innovative Product of the Year – Smoothie Bombs
- Retailer of the Year – Sherwood Road Organic Meats
- Farmer of the Year – Daniel and Holly Dzundza
- Non-Food Product of the Year – Slasher Organic Weedkiller
- Organic Business of The Year – TOM Organic
- Certified Organic Wine of the Year – 2016 Angove Shiraz Cabernet
Pictures: (Top,main) Duncan Harris, Harris Organic Wines; former senator Nick Xenophon; Emily Arnold, General Manager, Australian Organic; and Senator Rex Patrick (SA). (Centre, left) Andrew Monk, Chair, Australian Organic; Paul Da Silva, Arcadian Organic & Natural Meat Co.; and Emily Arnold, General Manager, Australian Organic. Centre 9right) Duncan Harris, Harris Organic Wines; former senator Nick Xenophon; Emily Arnold, General Manager, Australian Organic; and Senator Rex Patrick (SA)