Game on – Who Crafts the Best 100% NZ Bacon & Ham?

Game on – Who Crafts the Best 100% NZ Bacon & Ham?

21 May 2012 - The 100% New Zealand Bacon & Ham Competition is calling for entries to find New Zealand’s best makers of bacon and ham.

From the tastiest rasher to the most succulent slice of ham, the competition attracts butchers and retailers nationwide to put their craft to the test on Friday 13 July.

The 100% NZ Bacon & Ham Competition was established to celebrate New Zealand’s finest cured pork products and to help consumers identify and appreciate local, sustainable bacon and ham, and support NZ farmers.

NZPork CEO Owen Symmans says, “700,000 kilograms of imported pork arrives in New Zealand each week, so it is vital that shoppers be aware of what is home-grown and what isn’t.”

There are five bacon categories, Middle, Dry Cured Middle, Shoulder, Streaky, Middle Eye and two ham categories, Bone-In-Ham and Boneless Ham.

The 32-strong judging panel members rate the ham and bacon on aroma, texture, appearance, saltiness, sweetness and overall tastiness. This year’s panel includes television chef and cookbook author Simon Holst, President of the National Chef’s Association Anita Sarginson, food writer and cookbook author Jan Bilton, and chef and food writer Graham Hawkes.

New in 2012, the Consumers’ Choice Award will give the public a chance to “TXT-to- vote” for their favourite bacon and ham maker. In 2011 the 100% NZ Bacon & Ham Competition received 238 entries from 70 businesses. 2011 Bacon of the Year was a Dry Cured Middle Bacon from Ashby’s Butchery in Christchurch and Cashmere Cuisine also of Christchurch took out the 2011 Ham of the Year.

Campbell Naish, NZPork Marketing Manager says the industry support for this event is fantastic and this year’s sponsors include NZITO, Apple Tree Farms, Kerry Ingredients, and Five Star Pork.

Entries close on Friday 22 June. The 100% NZ Bacon of the Year and Gold, Silver and Bronze bacon medallists will be announced on 23 July. The 100% NZ Ham of the Year will be announced in late October.

For more information on 100% NZ Bacon, Ham and Pork go to www.extraordinarykitchen.co.nz

About 100% New Zealand Pork
The 100% New Zealand Pork, PigCare Accredited™ logo guarantee’s consumers are purchasing only pork that has been raised on New Zealand farms. Meat retailers are audited to prove only 100% New Zealand pork is being used when these labels are used on-pack. Only 100% New Zealand pork is guaranteed to be:
• From pigs born and raised on New Zealand farms
• Produced according to New Zealand’s Animal Welfare (Pigs) Code of Welfare 2010
• Compliant with New Zealand’s stringent food safety standards

For more information on pig farming in NZ go to www.pigfarminginnz.co.nz

ENDS

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