Happy Heart Garlic Rapeseed Oil - Winner of Best Organic Product 2011

"There was a 100% increase in number of companies entering National Organic Awards 2011" says Bord Bia. And that's in a recession!

 This is the fifth year for the National Organic Awards, organised by Bord Bia. A total of 169 individual products were judged with awards given in eight different categories.

Overall Winner, Kitty Colchester from Second Nature Oils said “I am really honored to have Happy Heart recognised as a superior organic rapeseed oil product in Ireland. We take great pride in the manufacturing of our fully organic rapeseed oil and the development of the flavoured range was a new departure for us – I’m delighted to see that it has paid off!”

"Rapeseed oil contains 59% monounsaturated fat and 30% polyunsaturated fats (omega 3 &6). It also contains vitamin E,which is a powerful antioxidant" said Kitty. "It helps the body to fight against the negative effects of free radicals,heart disease,cancer and aging as well as being beneficial in nourishing the skin. And the fresher the oil,the higher the vitamin E content. We cold press our oil weekly,offering you the freshest organic oil available in Ireland!"

Kitty Colechester of Second Nature Oils , Kilkenny 
Minister of State Shane McEntee, who presented the awards, took the opportunity to congratulate Bord Bia on the work that they are currently doing within the organic sector, and have now been doing for several years, to help develop it into the future stating,  “These awards have now become recognised as being an important and permanent feature of the organic food and drink industry in this country.  It is events like this that continue to raise awareness among consumers about what organic food and farming is all about and where they can source organic produce”.


The overall category winners were as follows: • Best Overall Organic Product: Happy Heart Organic Garlic Flavour Irish Rapeseed Oil - From Second Nature Oils , Kilkenny
http://www.secondnatureoils.com/

• Best Organic Confectionery & Baked Goods:
Organic Gluten Free Brownie Mix from Sowan’s Organic Bread Mix Ltd, County Laois
http://www.sowansorganic.ie/

• Best Organic Fruit & Vegetable: Irish Organic Apples from Clashganny Organic Farm, Waterford

• Best Organic Grocery: Joint Winners:  Happy Heart Organic Garlic Flavour Irish Rapeseed Oil - From Second Nature Oils, Drumeen Farm, Kilkenny Highbank Orchard Syrup from Highbank Orchard, Kilkenny
http://www.highbankorchards.com/

• Best Organic Dairy: Glenisk Greek Style Low-Fat Rhubarb Yogurt  from Glenisk, Offaly
http://www.glenisk.com/

• Best Organic Prepared Food Product: Smoked Irish Organic Salmon from Burren Smokehouse, Clare
www.burrensmokehouse.ie/

• Best Organic Fresh Seafood Product: The Organic Salmon Company Retail Pack from The Organic Salmon Company, Donegal
http://www.theorganicsalmoncompany.com/

• Best Organic Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic Beverage: Bloom Mountain Organic Irish Cream Liqueur from First Ireland Spirits Co Ltd, Laois
http://www.firstirelandspirits.com/

• Best Organic Fresh Meat Product: Organic Back Rashers from Crowe’s Farm, Tipperary
www.crowefarm.ie/

Eight companies were also Highly Commended:

• Organic Fruit & Vegetable
1. Curly Kale from  Beechlawn Organic Farm, Galway 
2. Rocket from Beechlawn Organic Farm, Galway 
3. Tesco Organic Carrots From Leo Dunne Ltd/ Tesco Ireland, Laois 
4. Tomatoes from The Organic Centre, Leitrim

• Organic Grocery:
Kilbeggan Organic  Jumbo Porridge Oats from Kilbeggan Organic Foods, Westmeath

• Organic Prepared Food:
1. Organic Omega Burger  from Dee’s Wholefoods Ltd, Cork 
2. Smoked Organic Salmon from Ummera Smoked Products Ltd, Cork

• Organic Seafood Product:
Carrefour Frozen Organic Salmon from The Organic Salmon Company , Donegal 

The independent judging panel for the 2011 National Organic Awards was chaired by Hugo Arnold, journalist and Food Consultant and included Miah Buckley, Trading Manager Dairy, Musgrave Retail Partners Ireland; Evan Doyle, Proprietor Brooklodge Wells and Spa; Darren Grant, Proprietor, The Organic Supermarket, Blackrock, Co Dublin; Oliver Moore, Journalist, Researcher and Organic Blogger and Noel Groome, Chair Foras Organac.

Eileen Bentley from Bord Bia
Speaking about the 2011 award entries Eileen Bentley, Manager, Small Business Department, Bord Bia said "It was really encouraging to see so many new award entrants which shows the range of organic production in Ireland and the greater availability of organic produce to Irish consumers.  We had a 100% increase in the number of companies entering products this year and we were delighted to present awards in eight different categories.”

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zack