Meet Your {Outstanding} Makers
The story of the four farming families behind Wairarapa Grains durum what has been written by Esta Chaplin, a New Zealand Food Communicators Scholarship recipient.
The OFPA judges awarded Rescued Kitchen Savoury Baking Mix a Gold Medal in the 2026 Earth category. Judges notes say the sustainably sourced herby-onion pantry staple is "a delicious mix, even when plain. Makes a fluffy, soft, moreish bake."
Raglan producers Dreamview Creamery achieved 2026 OFPA Champion status being named Leefield Station Dairy Champion for their Natural Probiotic Yoghurt with Boysenberry Compote. Dreamview Creamery is the result of a pivot by the Hill family, and this is their story…
Everyone can agree there’s something quietly satisfying about a good, simple bowl of pasta. For this year’s Leefield Station Supreme Champion Monty & Sons Radiatori Pasta simplicity is exactly the point.
For Good Chow recipe mastermind Jenny Yang, food has always been about care. Growing up, she watched her mother express love through cooking. Three meals a day, every day, prepared with precision and pride.
Meet Lara Hayes, the multi-award-winning force behind A Bit Dressy, who infuses her gate-to-plate Bay of Islands heritage and Mediterranean expertise into premium, small-batch olive oil dressings and nourishing bone broths.
Boutique New Product Champion 2025, The Smoke Shed, had the judges reaching for seconds for their Bunneys Worcester Sauce. 'Well-balanced flavours. Excellent product,' they noted. This home HQ sauce operation out of little Pukekawa is built on a recipe that travelled from Wales to New Zealand over a century ago—and on the stubborn determination of mum and dad operators who weren't about to let a few setbacks get in the way.
Farro Earth Champion 2025 was Mandys Horseradish Sauce. According to the judging panel; ‘This product is exactly what it says it is. Hot, sweet, tangy and textural. Judges just loved it.’