In a year like no other, Blas na hÉireann have just announced the award winners for 2021, with 18 winners from County Wexford, including the Blas na hÉireann Supreme Champion 2021, Wild About for their So Sloe Jelly.
Wexford Food Family members were very well represented with 14 producers winning awards for 33 products – 12 GOLD, 10 SILVER AND 10 BRONZE as well as best in Wexford, Best in Leinster and the Supreme Champion. Wexford continues to outperform with the quality of food and drink we produce. Our members are dedicated to making the very best and it is wonderful to have their efforts recognised by the Blas na hEireann Irish Food Awards. With the annual pilgrimage to Dingle stalled, this year’s winners tuned in for a second year running from every corner of the country for a virtual celebration of the very best in Irish food.
The Blas na hEireann award is really special, because it’s a simple Gold, Silver, Bronze . . .. The Blas na hEireann team stand with the hundreds of tiny food producers all over the country, doing farmers markets, stocking local shops, creating a real movement, driving quality, sustainability and innovation in Irish food.
The team at Blas na hÉireann has been working tirelessly since March to ensure that Blas 2021 went ahead, sustaining their commitment to celebrating the very best in Irish food and drink. Chairperson Artie Clifford feels that now, more than ever, it is essential to shine a light and give that all important boost to the talented producers dotted around the island.
“These are the 14th annual Blas na hÉireann awards,” says Artie, “and despite the very challenging situation, I am delighted to report a record entry level from producers right across the island. This large increase in entries has raised the bar across all categories, allowing us to introduce new products and producers to the buyers and press with whom we work, which is really exciting. Congratulations to all the winners and to every producer who participated. It is always such a rewarding experience to see the wealth of exceptional foods being produced on the island of Ireland, and this has been the best year yet.”
Now in their 14th year, the Blas na hÉireann awards are the all-island food awards that recognise the very best Irish food and drink products, and the passionate people behind them. The biggest blind tasting of produce in the country, the criteria on which the product is judged as well as the judging system itself, which was developed by Blas na hÉireann with the Food Science Dept of UCC and the University of Copenhagen, is now recognised as an industry gold standard worldwide.
