Flahavan’s has announced the return of its Oat-Grower of the Year competition for 2024.
The prestigious award recognises the outstanding efforts by both conventional and organic growers in Ireland to produce outstanding oats.
The Waterford-based family food business will evaluate growers based on overall grain quality, considering factors such as kernel content, bushel weight, moisture levels, aroma, flavour, colour and cleanliness.
An independent agronomist and tillage specialist from Teagasc, Ciaran Collins, will review the shortlisted growers from each category, narrowing it down to four finalists.
Collins will then assess the finalists in more detail to determine overall grower excellence, which will encompass cereal knowledge, farm practices and techniques, as well as environmental and sustainability efforts.
Based on these evaluations, he will select a winner.
Johnny Flahavan, operations manager at Flahavan’s, expressed his enthusiasm about launching the awards again this harvest, emphasising the important role that growers play in Flahavan’s products.
The competition provides a platform to reward hard work, dedication, and a commitment to excellence.
Flahavan’s sources its oats from within a 60-mile radius of its mill at Kilmacthomas, Co. Waterford.
Winners
Last year’s winner of the Flahavan’s Oat-Grower of the Year Awards’ Conventional Oats category was the Keane family of Cappoquin Estate, where Charles Keane was one of the first Irish growers to introduce tramlines to Irish cereal-growing in the 1980s.
Meanwhile, Evan Delaney from Red City, Fethard, Co. Tipperary, took the overall award in the Organic Oat-Grower category.
Both growers demonstrated top-quality oats grown with consideration for the environment.
Each finalist will receive a luxury Flahavan’s hamper, while overall winners will receive their category title, a Waterford Crystal trophy, and a monetary prize.
Flahavan’s will announce the winners of the Oat-Grower of the Year Award in early October 2024.
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