Barambah Organics, Berrys Creek, Meredith Dairy, and Bega were some of the winners at this year’s DIAA Australian Dairy Product Competition were announced at the Awards of Excellence Gala Dinner in Melbourne.
The winners of industry-sponsored trophies were:
- Most Successful Exhibitor: Meredith Dairy, Victoria;
- Most Outstanding Show Exhibit, Large-Scale Producer: Barambah Organics Skim Milk, Barambah Organics, Queensland;
- Most Outstanding Show Exhibit, Small-Scale Producer: Berrys Creek Gourmet Cheese Riverine Blue, Berrys Creek Gourmet Cheese, Victoria;
- Champion Cheesemaker Doug Mikula for Bega Cheddar, Bega Cheese, NSW; and
- Most Innovative Product In Show Mitch Lloyd for KLA Flower Power, Woodside Cheese Wrights, South Australia.
Chief judge Janos Kaldy said more than 1000 products from around Australia were entered in 111 classes, vying for the coveted trophies, as well as gold and silver medals.
“The competition is based on technical merit, with 21 dairy-industry experts judging in panels of three. Some of the top awards were won by well-established dairy companies who chose to enter for the first time.
“There were also some very new dairy companies who have achieved the top accolades. Other awardees are well-known names, having won many times before with their high-quality products,” said Kaldy.
Kaldy said he and the rest of the judging team were impressed with number and quality of this year’s entries, especially with dairy companies affected by two tough years of COVID-19.
Barambah Organics won a record haul of awards on top of receiving Most Outstanding Show Exhibit for its organic skimmed milk.
Barambah Organics CEO Matt Stanton said that the awards were no surprise, and were the result of the nutrient-rich diet of Barambah’s 1100 organic cows on its three organic farms in the south of Queensland and far north of NSW.
“Our cows are free to munch on lush, green grass all day which results in healthier, tastier milk, cheese and yoghurt."
“I’m really proud of the incredible work our farmers do every single day, and they’re thrilled that their efforts have been recognised in such a spectacular way,” said Stanton.
