Three Baw Baw-based businesses have been announced as category winners at the inaugural Food & Fibre Gippsland, Excellence in Agribusiness Awards held in Sale on Friday night.
The Gippsland-based awards program has been designed to recognise, celebrate and reward collaboration and innovation across agribusiness in the region.
Over 200 people attended the gala dinner and ceremony including Mayor Cr Mikaela Power, East Ward Cr Peter Kostos and West Ward Cr Tricia Jones.
Local category winners
- Gippsland Agribusiness of the Year – Flavorite
- Excellence in Sustainability – Blackwood Piggery
- Excellence in Adaption to Change – Soilkee
Warragul based glasshouse growers, Flavorite, took out the top award of the evening, the Gippsland Agribusiness of the Year. After being established by the Nichol and Millis families 25 years ago, Flavorite have grown to become one of the industry leaders in the nation supplying all the major supermarkets and employing 350 staff at their Warragul site.
As a testament to their commitment to sustainable farming practices on their Trafalgar farm, Blackwood Piggery were named winners in the Excellence in Sustainability category.
While Hallora based topsoil specialists, Soilkee, were rewarded for their technology and research into soil related issues by being awarded with the Excellence in Adaption to Change prize.
Baw Baw Shire Council joined other local government areas and organisations as a proud award sponsors.
As stated by Mayor Cr Mikaela Power
“Congratulations to all the award winners, nominees and to Food and Fibre Gippsland for putting together a fantastic program and night.”
“With special congratulations of course to the winners from Baw Baw; Flavorite, Blackwoods Piggery and Soilkee.”
As stated by Cr Tricia Jones
“These awards help to acknowledge the hard work that the business owners put in throughout the year, and also help to raise the profile of local businesses.”
“We’re thankful for the role agri-business plays in the ongoing prosperity of our Shire”.
As stated by Cr Peter Kostos
“Baw Baw Shire is a leader in agriculture and agri-business. It’s great to see some recognition for operations in our Shire”
“Food and Fibre Gippsland have done a great job coming together as an industry body for all of Gippsland and we look forward to its ongoing successes”.
Image: (Left to right) Mayor Cr Mikaela Power, Niels Olsen of Soilkee, Chris Millis of Flavorite, Rob Bayley of Blackwoods Piggery, Cr Peter Kostos and Cr Tricia Jones.
About Food & Fibre Gippsland
Food & Fibre Gippsland is a not for profit organisation. It is the collaborative force, creating opportunities for prosperous and sustainable sector across the region. Gippsland’s vibrant $7 billion dollar food and fibre production and processing industry is vitally important to the region, playing a major role in the local, state and national economy.
