AYR-based Pacific Reef Fisheries has been named one of six finalists in this year’s prestigious President’s Medal, for their Sydney Royal Champion Sashimi Grade, Pacific Reef North Queensland Cobia.
President’s Medal judges Simon Marnie, renowned foodie and 702 ABC presenter, and Michael Bullen, Deputy Director General of the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) visited Pacific Reef as part of the judging process on Monday.
Celebrating its ten year anniversary, the President’s Medal is awarded by the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW (RAS) and is a celebration of all the RAS aspires to achieve. The award is one of a kind in Australia, with Sydney Royal Champion winning producers from the wine, dairy and fine food industries competing against each other.
Having taken home the Champion Fresh Fish, at this year’s Spring Fine Food Show, chief operating officer Maria Mitris said it’s an honour to be named a finalist.
“This is the first time we have put our fish in for any judging for awards. To win a Gold Medal and Champion Fresh Fish in the first year and to be nominated for the President’s Medal is such a huge achievement for us,” Ms Mitris said.
“There is no other farm that currently produces Cobia in Australia. We have focused on growing conditions, diets and harvest methods that result in a fish with exceptional eating qualities,” she said.
“The nomination is the culmination of what has been a major effort by everyone involved over six years. We have not only created a new product for the market and a new industry for Australia, but we have developed a product that is regarded as a premium “five star” fish.”
Other finalists include: Serendipity Ice Cream, Marrickville, NSW; Australian Agricultural Company, QLD & NT; Tyrrell’s Wines, Hunter Valley, NSW; Soumah of Yarra Valley, Vic and Yabby Lake Vineyard, Mornington Peninsula, VIC.
The judging panel will spend more than half a day on location with each of the six finalists and their co-workers getting insights into key areas of their operations. Judging will assess their production process and performance across a set of strict environmental, economic and community criteria.
The finalists represent the best producers from across the country, assessed on triple bottom line criteria. Each has been selected from a pool of over 5,500 entries from the Sydney Royal Wine, Beer & Cider, Cheese & Dairy, and Fine Food Shows, where each was awarded Champion status in their respective class.
The President’s Medal winner will be announced at an Awards Ceremony on Thursday, July 23, at Sydney Showground, where the six finalists’ produce will be featured on the menu designed especially for the occasion by Sydney Showground Executive Chef, Tim Browne.
The Master of Ceremonies for the evening will be media personality and RAS Vice-President, Lyndey Milan OAM.
The winner will receive $10,000 along with the prestigious silver heritage President’s Medal.
More information is available at: www.rasnsw.com.au/presidents_medal.htm
