Oyster producers across the Bega Valley and Eurobodalla Shires have taken centre stage as state winners in the category of Sea in this year's delicious. Harvey Norman Produce Awards. The competition is now in its 16th year.
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Producers from each state received awards across Dairy, Earth, Paddock and Sea categories. There were 127 producers from all over the country.
Producers from the Valley and Batemans Bay were standouts in the NSW Sea category.
The state winners' produce will be tasted by the national judging panel in May to decide the 2021 gold medal and trophy winners, as well as awards in other categories like Producer of the Year.
The NSW state judges include professional food critics, restaurateurs and chefs.
"Despite the many challenges that our Aussie farmers continue to face, the produce that we tasted was innovative and impressive," said NSW state judge Jordan Toft.
Mimosa Rock Oysters, which has estuaries in Nelson Lagoon and Wapengo Lake received a state award for their Boxer oysters.
Tathra Oysters received a state award for their Tathra Oysters 5 Year Old Bistro Grade oyster.
Wapengo Rocks Wild Organic Oysters received a state award for their Wild Organic Oysters Premium Grade oysters.
From Batemans Bay, Australia's Oyster Coast received a state award for their Appellation Oysters and Moonlight Flat Oyster for their Moonlight Kisses.
"Although the pandemic still presents challenges, this year's state judging was as exciting as ever," said delicious editorial director Kerrie McCallum.
"The produce that was tasted across all of the categories was outstanding. Australian producers continue to deliver world-leading produce."
The NSW wins come at a time when oyster farmers on the Far South Coast have battled bushfires, reduced tourism due to COVID-19, temporary closings due to sewerage spill lockdowns, floods and debris that left many producers with no choice but to close.
Tathra Oysters, which took home a gold medal in 2020 and have been part of the awards for about a decade, is currently closed due to the recent flooding.
Owner Gary Rodley said that they would still be a week or two away from opening again.
"The oysters will tell us when they will be open again, we will just have to wait and see."
Luckily they harvested a week or two before the rain really came and hit the area hard and so still had some stock.
However their doors have officially been closed for around three weeks now.
"To be recognised in that sort of award opens a lot of doors for you in terms of the Sydney and Melbourne restaurant scene, so that's certainly one side of it.
"The other side of it for us is to know that what we are doing is working and that's always a big part when you decide in life to do something like we've done with this business."
It's nice to know that you're bringing people joy when what you're producing and the methods that you've devised are doing the job, there's a odd satisfaction there.
- Gary Rodley
Despite all the publicity, Mr Rodley said that he and his wife Jo just love being in their little shop in Tathra.
"We love that side of the business, getting to meet the public, and educating people about oysters."
Every oyster-producing gold medallist in last year's 2020 delicious awards hailed from the NSW Far South Coast.