Yes folks, it's that time of year again: the time when we honour the little guys.  Not the huge flashy shops and state-of-the-art production lines, but the small producers of top-quality South African food, and the merchants and markets that sell them. A while back when I asked you to nominate products for the RMB Eat In South African produce awards, and those nominations have now been considered, the judges made their decisions, and the winners have been announced! 

The awards were created in 2006 by Eat In magazine to recognise independent producers and retailers whose integrity, care for the environment, passion and innovation are putting South Africa on the international food map.  The winners in 16 categories were announced on 3 September at a ceremony in Cape Town and there are loads that I can't wait to try!  The prestigious Best New Product aware went to Buffalo Ridge Mozzarella di Bufala.  Buffalo Ridge is one of only three producers worldwide outside Italy to produce authentic buffalo mozzarella, and the judges thought the quality was even better than some imported equivalents!  Makes my heart swell with patriotic pride!

Here is the full list of 2008 winners:

Best New Product: Buffalo Ridge Mozzarella di Bufala

Best New Product runner-up: Bags of Bites sugar-free choc chip and macadamia biscuits

Innovation Award: Kitchen Garden Sprouts

Innovation Merit Award: Soil for Life home gardens

South African Heritage Award: Fruits of the Karoo Aloe Juices

Best Organic Producer: Wegraakbosch Farm and Dairy

THE SMALL PRODUCER AWARDS

Bakery (bread): Trevor Daly’s artisanal wood-fired-oven ciabatta (at the Neighbourhoods Market in Cape Town)

Bakery (cakes, pastries and biscuits): Jardine Bakery’s braised pork belly and apple pie

Cheese: Dalewood Fromage’s six-month matured Huguenot

Earth: Earth Apples’ range of gourmet potatoes

Grocery and Condiments: Quality Pickles’s range of chutneys, sauces and pickles

Paddock (fresh and prepared): Dargle Valley’s bacon, pork cocktail sausages, pork pies and fresh rib-eye steak

OUTSTANDING OUTLETS

North: Braeside Meat Market, Johannesburg

South: Main Ingredient Gourmet Food, Cape Town

East: Everfresh, La Lucia, Durban

BEST MARKETS

North: Pretoria Boeremark

South: Neighbourgoods Market, Cape Town

East: Shongweni Farmers’ Market, KZN

So there you have it – the best of the best of our local small producers and retailers.  If, unlike me, you are currently in South Africa, please make every effort to support them.  And remember to start thinking about who you want to nominate in next year's awards 🙂