The BBC Food and Farming Awards 2018 Winners

BBC presenter Sheila Dillon and chef Andi Oliver announced the winners of the BBC Food and Farming Awards at the 18th annual ceremony on Wednesday 13th June.

The UK’s top talent from the food world including Blur bassist-turned cheesemaker Alex James, Matt Tebbutt, Grace Dent, Mark Hix, Liz Earle, Richard Corrigan and Russell Norman, gathered in Bristol to congratulate the winners and finalists.

Selected from thousands of public nominations, the BBC Food and Farming Awards celebrate the nation’s greatest food and drink producers, cooks, farmers, shop owners. They are the exciting street food chefs, the forward-thinking farmers and the community cooks offering hope through food. This year’s winners showcase the very best talent and entrepreneurship from right across the UK.
The awards will be broadcast across two episodes on BBC Radio 4 on Sunday 17th June at 12:30pm and Monday 18th June at 3:30pm.

Shelia Dillon, BBC Radio 4’s The Food Programme presenter and BBC Food and Farming Awards judge, said; “More and more, we are seeing people choosing to eat consciously and growing more aware of where their food comes from. Our finalists this year really reflect that.”

“We’re seeing young and talented people moving into food – learning how to make charcuterie, setting up businesses in the heart of their communities – and through their food, these people are changing society.”

“And what was incredible to see was the power of our daily bread…we had two, small bakeries win this year, who both care about quality bread and sharing this with their communities. At the root of it all is passion for good food that is accessible to everyone.”

After co-hosting the BBC Food & Farming Awards for the first time last year, Andi Oliver, of BBC One’s Saturday Kitchen, returned as Head Judge and personally judged the Best Food Producer category, alongside Sheila Dillon. Andi said “It was amazing to meet such talented people, who are not only producing delicious, thoughtful food – they are also spurred on to build communities and bring people together through their food.”

“That’s what these awards are about…people just getting on with it and doing their thing because they’re passionate about good, honest food for everyone.”

“It’s opened my eyes to the food people are making all around the UK and every time I returned to my restaurant after visiting the food producers, the chefs in my kitchen were very excited to see the treats I brought back with me! The nominees inspired all sorts of ideas for our menu and beyond AND reminded me just how much I love being in the kitchen inventing things!”

BEST FOOD PRODUCER The Cornish Duck Company

A casual conversation with a local chef struggling to source high quality duck was all the inspiration. Roger and Tanya Olver needed to re-purpose their family farm. They have since spent years crossing traditional breeds to optimise flavour and sustainability. They breed, hatch, rear and slaughter their ducks at Terras Farm, and sell their excellent eggs and meat to local chefs and at farmers markets across Cornwall.

BEST DRINKS PRODUCER Ross-on-Wye Cider & Perry Company

Broome Farm in Peterstow has become a place of pilgrimage for cider and perry makers. There, the Johnson family have been growing apples and pressing them for cider and perry since the 1930s. Father and son team Mike and Albert produce an extensive range of natural ciders and perrys using traditional methods to reflect the unique soil and climate of Herefordshire. The Johnsons walk their orchards until the fruit is ripe, before picking or shaking, handsorting and pressing the juice.

BEST STREETFOOD/TAKEAWAY AWARD Liberty Kitchen

Founded by Janet Boston, Liberty Kitchen works to give men a chance for change. It’s a street food social enterprise based in HMP Pentonville. The street food is made and sold by prisoners and ex-prisoners who learn to cook and get the chance to take catering qualifications. They design and produce a London-inspired menu of meat, fish and vegan balls with appropriate accompaniments. All the recipes are created by the men to reflect their own backgrounds.

BEST SHOP Squash

Situated in a modern, eco building designed by the community in Toxteth, an old docklands area of Liverpool, Squash is an ethically sourced food shop, café and garden. Customers can stop for a coffee, buy organic fruit, vegetables and edible plants, or take part in one of many workshops offered. The shop has grown to be a hub for their diverse urban community.

BBC COOK OF THE YEAR Carys Roberts & Carol Mercer

Carol and Carys are two retired nurses who run a luncheon club in their village of Gargrave. Meals-on-wheels had been stopped and they noticed that many elderly people were increasingly isolated. So, fortnightly, they provide hearty hot meals and home-cooked puddings to anyone over 50. They deliver meals when people aren’t able to come to the club and any profit they make goes back into their kitchen.

BBC RADIO 4 FARMING TODAY FUTURE FOOD AWARD Mossgiel Farm

Farmer Bryce Cunningham is a third generation tenant farmer at Mossgiel Farm. Faced with losing the farm Bryce decided to move away from supplying the dairy industry, and start selling organic and sustainable milk direct to customers. Bryce claims theirs is the only farm in the UK using no single plastic in the production of their milk.

COUNTRYFILE FARMING HEROES Helen and Nigel Dunn

In the past 15 years, Devon sheep and beef farmers Helen and Nigel Dun have fostered 80 young people - from tiny babies to young mums and everything in between. Every foster child who joins the Dunn family live and work a real country life. Some foster children have stayed just a night, others have come to the family for years.

THE PAT LLEWELLYN NEW TALENT AWARD Iain Broadley and Ally Jaffee

Bristol Medical Students Iain Broadley and Ally Jaffee are co-founders of the organisation Nutritank. They found that some medical students are reporting receiving as little as 3 hours of compulsory nutrition training in 5/6 years of medical school. Faced with rising levels of chronic disease, mainly related to poor diet and lifestyle, Nutritank has founded more than 20 medical school societies across UK. The campaign is now feeding into the NHS long-term plan.

DEREK COOPER OUSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Fergus Henderson

BBC WORLD SERVICE GLOBAL FOOD CHAMPION AWARD Akshaya Patra