100% New Zealand Bacon & Ham Competition Judging Underway

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New Zealand’s Best Bacon and Ham
Battle is On

100% New Zealand Bacon & Ham Competition Judging Underway

Auckland, Friday 19 July 2013: The judging for the 2013 100% New Zealand Bacon & Ham Competition is taking place today at the WelTec School of Hospitality, Wellington. A panel of 33 judges, made up of leading chefs, food connoisseurs and master butchers, have gathered to discover New Zealand’s top bacon and ham makers.  

Throughout the day the judges will have the enviable task of sampling 200 entries across five bacon and two ham categories. All entries use only 100% New Zealand farmed pork and will be rated on aroma, texture, appearance, saltiness and overall tastiness.

Head judge and President of NZ Chefs Association, Anita Sarginson says of this year’s competition, “We’re delighted the 100% New Zealand Bacon & Ham Competition continues to generate strong interest from the industry with fifty-three butcheries registering for the 2013 competition.”

“I expect the competition to be strongly contested across the categories with the winners receiving all important industry accolades,” adds Sarginson.

140 bacons have been entered across five categories and over 60 hams over two categories. The high number and quality of entries will make choosing the category winners a difficult task for this year’s judging panel who will select supreme winners for bacon and ham in addition to the category winners.

Last year’s 100% NZ Bacon of the Year winner, Ellesmere Butchery, is defending its title, entering product across five categories of the competition. The 2012 100% NZ Ham of the Year winner, Nosh Food Market, is also hoping to take away top honours again in 2013.   

Other entrants this year include 2012 category winners for bacon, Franklin Country Meats, Avons Butchery, Sam’s Butchery, and Euro Deli Meats, as well as ham medallists Westmere Butchery and Ellesmere Butchery. 

NZ Pork Marketing Manager, Campbell Naish states, “Currently more than 60% of the bacon and ham sold in New Zealand is made from imported pork but not many realise this. It’s important that Kiwis understand how to be sure that they are buying bacon and ham made from pork that’s 100% home-grown on New Zealand farms.”

Mr Naish adds, “This competition provides a fantastic platform to build awareness amongst consumers that 100% New Zealand produced pork is sought after for its freshness, quality and care.”

The results of the 100% NZ Bacon of the Year competition, including Gold, Silver and Bronze medallists, will be announced on 8 August, while the 100% NZ Ham of the Year will be announced in October.

For more information at: www.pork.co.nz.

ENDS

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