TATHRA Oysters have won Champion of the Show at the Royal Agricultural Society’s Sydney Fine Food Aquaculture Awards again.
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Owners Jo and Gary Rodely are celebrating after winning three gold and one silver medal, an award for each of the four entries they put in.
Although they have yet to receive the point sheet, the Rodelys know one of their gold medal winners garnered the most points of all entries, bringing in the coveted title of Champion of Show.
The Rodelys were informed of their win yesterday after judging took place in Sydney.
Gary was modest about the win when the BDN contacted him, saying excellent conditions across the five estuaries from the Far South Coast made him nervous about taking home any awards at all.
“I believe there were 39 entries on total at the judging including local entries from us and farmers from Wapengo, Merimbula, Pambula and Wonboyn.
“Tathra Oysters sponsored the oyster judging at the Bega Show in February, so we’d seen the quality of oysters this year from the area and it was extremely good.
“We were confident of the quality of our oysters but I wasn’t sure how we would far because the quality throughout the area was extraordinary and we definitely had some competition.
“I spoke with one of the Fine Food judges this morning and he used that word too to describe the oysters from the Far South Coast - extraordinary.”
However, yet again the superb quality of Jo and Gary’s oysters eclipsed the competition.
The medals, ribbons, certificates and trophies are certainly building up at Tathra Oysters, but as Gary said, “it’s a nice problem to have!”
“A few years ago when Tony Rettke rebuilt the store for us he also installed display cabinets, so it’s good to have awards like these to fill them with!”
The Rodelys will accept their Champion of the Show award at an upcoming RAS lunch which not only provides a chance to meet with other award-winning producers but is also a good chance to network with restaurateurs.
Their award-winning oysters will also be part of the lunch menu.
The Rodelys’ oysters are already on the menu in top Sydney restaurant’s such as Otto Ristorante and Neil Perry’s Rockpool.
Their renown is set to expand, however, with the Rodelys in talks with seafood distributers De Costi’s about export options.
The Rodelys are not selfish with their success and are unfailingly generous in their support of all local growers.
“We’ve had fabulous conditions across all the estuaries, so visit your local oyster farmer today and grab a dozen!” Gary said.
