Finalists in farming and product classes revealed

The finalists for the Taste of Kent Awards Kent Farm Diversification Award and the Kent Food Product Classes have been announced by Produced in Kent, Monday 10 February 2020. Kent Farm Diversification Award, sponsored by South East Farmer Magazine. Finalists are: Hinxden Farm Dairy, Cranbrook Lower Ladysden Farm, Goudhurst Owlett Fruit Juice, Lamberhurst The Kent Food Product classes, sponsored by: Shepherd Neame Judging took place 5^th February at The Old Brewery Store, Shepherd Neame in Faversham Finalists are:

Kent Food Product Classes - Ambient	Campbell's Chutneys, Erith	Amaretto & Plum Jam
	Karimix, Selling	Kentish Tomato Chutney
	Kentish Oils, Bridge	Cold Pressed Rapeseed Oil
	Morghew, Tenterden	Rapeseed Oil
	North Downs Real Food, Lenham	Beef Dripping
Kent Food Product Classes - Dairy	The Cheesemakers of Canterbury, Dargate	Ashmore Farmhouse
	Hinxden Farm Dairy, Benenden	Crème Fraiche
	Kingcott Dairy, Staplehurst	Kingcott Blue
Kent Food Product Classes - Bakery & Confectionery	The Bakehouse at 124, Tonbridge	Apple Bun
	The Bakehouse at 124, Tonbridge	Apple Sourdough
	Speciality Breads, Westwood nr Margate	Huffkin
Kent Food Product Classes - Prepared Foods	North Downs Real Food, Lenham	Traditional Biltong
	The Speedy Snail, East Peckham	Celeriac and Apple Soup
	The Speedy Snail, East Peckham	Kentish Blue Cheese and Broccoli Pasta Bake
Kent Food Product Classes - Specialist Alcoholic Drink	Canterbury Brewers and Distillers, Canterbury	Smuggler Sam's Spiced Rum
	Marourde, Mereworth	Mead Spritz
	Marourde, Mereworth	Rose Spritz
Kent Food Product Classes - Specalist Non-Alcoholic Drink	Nim's Fruit Products, Sittingbourne	Edible Tea - Pineapple & Kiwi
	Spadework, Offham	Elderflower Cordial
	Spadework, Offham	Rhubarb Cordial
	Tickleberries, New Ash Green	Aronia Berry Juice

Floortje Hötte at Produced in Kent comments: “Once again during this year’s competition, we have had a truly amazing level of participation and support from farmers and food and drink businesses here in Kent. Judging the product classes is very difficult as the standard of entries is very high but the judges have chosen their finalists and we look forward to seeing who is crowned the winners next month.” In an unprecedented judging result, several tied scores have meant more finalists in some of the classes this year. Shepherd Neame’s Head Development Chef Simon Howlett said: “We were very impressed by the high standard of this year’s entries and it was extremely hard to pick out the winners in each category, let alone the overall champion! “All entrants should be extremely proud of their submissions. It is a fantastic showcase of the amazing wealth of produce on offer in the ‘Garden of England’.” Jamie McGrorty, commercial manager and publisher at South East Farmer comments: “Despite having only launched as a new category at the 2019 Taste of Kent Awards, the number and standard of entries received for the 2020 Farm Diversification of the Year Award has far surpassed our expectations. All nominees demonstrated an untiring passion for local produce and are clearly all champion ambassadors for Kent’s agricultural community. It was incredibly difficult to choose just three finalists, but judges felt that Lower Ladysden, Hinxden Farm Dairy and Owletts had all taken ambitious and creative approaches when looking for ways to adapt and diversify a traditional farming business. All have recognised the importance and opportunities for farmers and growers to build and develop closer relationships with consumers and, above all, all three had shown pure determination to see their agricultural businesses survive through financially challenging times.” The winners of each class will be announced at the Taste of Kent Awards black-tie awards dinner on Thursday 5 March 2020 at the Kent Events Centre. The prestigious ‘Kent Food Product of the Year’ Awards (sponsored by HSBC) is chosen from the winners of each class and announced at the dinner.