If you are looking for the star of your next cheese board or new addition to your homemade pizza, look no further. An Ayrshire Mozzarella by RFG Foods in Simondium was crowned the Dairy Product of the Year and is so worthy of this accolade.
The winning 600g Ayrshire Mozzarella, made especially for Woolworths, was one of 929 dairy products from 71 producers that competed for the attention of a team of 80 judges.
“For a product to be chosen as product of the year in a competition of this nature is the dream of every dairy producer,” says dairy expert and chief judge Alan Fourie.
“The 600g Woolworths Ayrshire Mozzarella is an exceptional pizza mozzarella and worthy of this accolade. It is a firm and smooth cheese with a slightly creamy appearance that grates well and melts perfectly. Its creamy, soft, and caramelised flavour is out of the books.”
Robert Sudell, operations manager of RFG Foods said their small, artisanal cheese team, under the guidance of cheesemaker Kerwick Boonzaaier, are true experts. They use a very manual process, cutting cheese by hand, supported by Italian ingredients and equipment, to create mozzarella that is on par with the best in the world. Sudell said their team is delighted to be recognised for their signature line. Mozzarella has been the core foundation of RFG Foods for over 25 years. Photo: Supplied/Agri-Expo
The dairy industry has been an important pillar of Agri-Expo since its inception in 1831 as the Cape of Good Hope Agricultural Society, according to Breyton Milford, general manager of Agri-Expo. He said Agri-Expo is fortunate to have been the host of the SA Dairy Championships since 1834. However, he added that it is important to acknowledge the effective collaboration within the dairy industry in South Africa. Photo: Supplied/Agri-Expo
At the 2023 SA Dairy Awards, Agri-Expo honoured dairy specialist Suzy O’Regan (middle) for her exceptional and dynamic leadership in the dairy industry. O’Regan, product development manager for Woolworths Food, is the second woman whose name is inscribed on the list of industry stalwarts on the Agri-Expo Roll of Honour. She has been a judge at the SA Dairy Championships for over 20 years and she is a member of the Super Jury of internationally recognised experts at the World Cheese Awards. Photo: Supplied/Agri-Expo
From the high number of entries, 106 products were named SA Champions, standing out as winners in each championships class. This year, a total of 23 products were honoured with the Qualité Mark of Excellence. Photo: Supplied/Agri-Expo
The South African dairy industry needs to focus on innovation and adapt continuously to stay relevant in a highly competitive commercial and trading environment. This is according to Dr Tertius Cilliers, a judge at the SA Dairy Championships and CEO of Synercore, an investment company focusing on innovation and total solutions in the food industry in Southern Africa. Photo: Supplied/Agri-Expo
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