2003-03-14
DAIRY PRODUCTS VIE FOR TOP HONOURS

A record 470 dairy products will contend for top honours in the 2003 National Dairy Championships this week. Entries will compete in six categories - butter; cheese; cottage cheese; cultured and flavoured milk; ice cream/frozen dessert and yoghurt - during a taste-off at Elsenburg Dairy Laboratory in Stellenbosch.

This year's championships boast a 25% increase in entries and 13 new participants. The classes for innovative low-fat flavoured yoghurt, cheese novelties and fat-free flavoured yoghurt with fruit have shown significant growth and attracted the most entries.

Specialist panels of judges, including an international expert, will rate entries blind on appearance, colour, structure, texture, and taste according to the internationally recognised 20-point system. The judges, who represent almost the entire dairy industry, are specialists in the field and the South African Society of Dairy Technology endorses the method of adjudication. Alain Crase from France will be the first international judge to form part of the championships.

The 2003 SA Dairy Champions, Dairy Product of the Year and winners of Qualité Awards will be announced at the Qualité Awards Dinner in Paarl on 23 April. The Qualité Awards were introduced by Agri-Expo two years ago in recognition of exceptional quality and is only awarded to dairy products that score a pre-determined high point.

Commenting on the event, Johan Ehlers, Agri-Expo's general manager, said the record number of entries verifies the importance of the National Dairy Championships in the South African dairy industry. "This year, Agri-Expo contracted the Dairy Standards Agency to monitor the quality of all the Qualité winners on an on-going basis. This decision further enhances the dynamics of the championships and consumers can be assured of the consistent quality of their favourite products, " he said.

Cheese enthusiasts will have the opportunity to taste the newly-crowned SA champion cheeses and winners of Qualité Awards at the SA Cheese Festival - also presented by Agri-Expo - from 25 to 28 April.

Contact Memory Kalis at Agri-Expo, tel 021 975 4440/1/2/3, fax 021 975 4446 or e-mail [email protected] for further information.