Bega Valley oyster farmers have once again impressed the judges at the Sydney Royal Fine Food show, proving the Far South Coast is home to some of the best Sydney Rock Oysters in Australia.
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Although Doyles Oysters from Batemans Bay came away with the award for the Champion Aquaculture Product, farmers from the Sapphire Coast weren’t far behind.
Bega Valley Shire has five oyster producing estuaries – Wapengo, Nelsons Lagoon, Merimbula, Pambula and Wonboyn – and for the first time every estuary can lay claim to winning Gold.
Kingfisher Oysters - Warwick and Lee Anderson from Wapengo – gained the third highest gold medal point score (behind Doyles Oysters who claimed the first and second positions) with an amazing 92.5 closely followed by Gary and Jo Rodley from Tathra Oysters who were awarded a 92.
Judges commented that the standard of entries this year were some of the highest they’d ever seen which was made evident by them awarding more than three times the amount of gold medals than last year.
Overall there were 12 gold medals awarded for the best Sydney Rock Oysters, nine of which were awarded to Bega Valley farmers. This is more than double the amount of golds awarded to local farmers in the 2016 competition.
Tathra Oysters (Nelsons Lagoon) received three golds and Kingfisher Oysters (Wapengo) was awarded two, and Wapengo Rocks, Stirling Oysters (Merimbula), Hazelgrove Oysters (Pambula) and K & C Henry Wonboyn Oysters received one coveted gold medal each.
Wonboyn Lake oyster farmer and gold award recipient Caroline Henry said this year’s spectacular results were thanks to the pristine waterways and the support of the local community.
“This was made possible by not only the caring and professional manner in which our farmers strive to produce quality oysters but also the good relationship farmers have with Bega Valley Shire Council staff,” Ms Henry said.
“I doubt any other Council could boast having its entire oyster producing estuaries receiving gold medals in such a prestigious competition in the one year.
“Our farmers should be congratulated on their significant achievements, which represent many months and years of hard work and dedication.”
Out of the 44 medals awarded for oysters 29 were given to oysters grown in the Bega Valley.