Calling all producers - Blas na hÉireann 2024 open for entries

The largest blind-tasted food awards in Ireland - Blas na hÉireann 2024, the Irish Food Awards - is now open for entries, with a call put out to all producers to put their best foot forward and compete in this prestigious annual event, the 17th running of the awards.

Designed to recognise and celebrate the very best Irish food and drink, entries will finally close for this year’s awards on May 16th. Open to producers across all categories of food and drink, the early bird discounted rate for entries runs until April 3rd.

Judging will happen over the summer months and the awards will be announced on Friday, 4th October. After a wonderfully successful year in Dingle in 2023 celebrating Irish food and drink producers, the excitement for the upcoming awards this October is already building.

“The Cork City & County Local Enterprise Offices have always been champions of the local food & drinks sector and have been involved in providing a range of business, training, advisory and financial supports to the many food producers in Cork over the last 30 years,” said Deirdre O'Mahon of Cork LEO.

“We are delighted to partner with Blas na hÉireann, the Irish food awards, the largest food awards on the island, which celebrates the range and quality of local food, to sponsor the Best in Cork award, and we would encourage all local Cork food & drinks businesses to enter the competition this year.”

BLAS AMBASSADORS

Together with the Food Science Dept of UCC and the University of Copenhagen, the team at Blas na hÉireann have developed a blind-tasting judging system that is now recognised as an industry gold standard worldwide.

Winners and finalists are always the best Blas ambassadors — something to which many hundreds of small producers, farmers, growers, bakers and artisan food makers who have won a Blas na hÉireann award and proudly put the winner’s sticker on their product can attest. Research has shown that the Blas na hÉireann accreditation has the highest recognition among Irish consumers and having the award logo on products encourages shoppers to buy – it is a recognised guarantee of a top-quality Irish product.

For further details, visit www. irishfoodawards.com