Record for Northern Ireland food in Blas na hEireann awards

Almost 70 products from Northern Ireland have been shortlisted for this week-end's final stage of the Blas na hEireann, The Irish Food Awards at Dingle 1-5 October. The 67 products shortlisted from Northern Ireland is the highest- ever number of food and drink products from the region for final judging by a team of distinguished food experts. Now in its 8th year, Blas na hEireann, The Irish Food Awards is the biggest competition for quality Irish produce on the island of Ireland. Over 2,500 products were entered in this year's competition to win Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards in over 90 food and drink categories as well as key awards such as Supreme Champion and Best Artisan Producer. Research has shown that the Blas accreditation has the highest recognition amongst Irish consumers and using the award logo on packs encourages shoppers to buy these products. It is their guarantee of a top quality Irish product. Shortlisted Northern Ireland companies range from major businesses such as Dale Farm, Belfast. Linden Meats, Dungannon, county Tyrone, Moy Park, Craigavon, county Armagh and Irwin's Bakery, also Craigavon in county Armagh to smaller and artisan enterprises including Hannan Meats, Moira, county Down, Broighter Rapeseed Oil, Limavady, county Derry and smoked Abernethy Butter, Dromara, county Down. The Blas awards are the biggest blind tasting of produce on the island of Ireland, and the criteria on which the product is judged as well as the judging system itself, which was developed by Blas nahEireann with the Food Science Dept of University College Cork, is now recognised as an international industry standard. Blas also works with The Baking Academy in Dublin for judging of the bread categories. Northern Ireland companies have won category awards in previous events. They include Hannan Meats, Moira, county Down, Harnett's Oils, Craigavon and DJ Juices, Lisburn, county Down. Northern Ireland products shortlisted in Blas na hEireann Awards 2015 Abernethy Butter, Dromara, county Down - Smoked Butter Anahourish Preserves, Dungiven - Winter Chutney Armagh Cider, Armagh, county Armagh - Doyle's Autumn Berry Cider, Doyle's Honey Cider and Madden's Mellow Cider Avondale Foods, Lurgan, county Armagh - Signature Taste Freshly Prepared Coleslaw ( Entered by Musgraves) and Signature Taste Feta and Slow Roasted Tomato Salad (Entered by Uusgraves) Broighter Gold Rapeseed Oil, Limavady - Thai infused oil Crilco, Newry, county Down - Aldi Apple Drops ( Entered by Aldi) Corndolly Foods, Newry, county Down - Large Floury Baps Crust and Crumb Bakery, Derrylin, county Fermanagh - Feta, Sundried Tomatoes and Pesto Stone-Baked Pizza Dart Mountain Cheese, Dungiven, county Derry - Sperrin Blue Cheese Daily Bake, Newry, county Armagh - Chef's Select Premium Single Serve Pies - Chicken Curry Deli-Lites, Warrenpoint - Spicy Rocks and Salted Caramel Brownie DJ Juices and Ciders, Lisburn, county Antrim - Tempted Sweet Cider East Coast Seafoods, Downpatrick, county Down - Luxury Crab CocktailMix Free'ist, Belfast- Sugar Free Popcorn Caramel Crunch Glastry Farm Ice Cream, Kircubbin, county Down - Pear Sorbet and Blackcurrant Sorbet Grahams Bakery, Dromore, county Down - Irish Shortbread Hannan Meats, Moira, county Down - Hot Smoked Chicken and Sugar Pit Back Rashers Harnett's Oils, Craigavon, county Armagh - Orange and Rosemary Rapeseed Oil Holmes Bakery, Craigavon, county Armagh - Butter Shortbread and Flakemeal biscuits Hovis, Belfast - Connells Bakery Pancakes (entered by Lidl) Connells Bakery - Mini pancakes Irwin's Bakery, Craigavon, county Armagh - Tesco Barm Brack and Connell's Bakery White Baps and Irish Batch Bread Karro Foods, Cookstown, county Tyrone - Dunnes Stores Thick Cut Maple Cured Rashers 300g and Cookstown Honey Cured Prime Fillet of Ham 1.4KG Linden Foods, Dungannon, county Tyrone - Inisvale Selection Irish Hereford Fillet Steaks (Entered on behalf of producer by Lidl Linwoods, Armagh, county Armagh - Large Pancakes (Entered by Aldi) Long Meadow Cider, Loughgall, county Armagh - blossom Burst and Medium Cider McCann's Cider, Craigavon, county Armagh - Dry Cider Mauds Ice Cream, Carrickfergus, county Antrim - Chocolate & Honeycomb Bar Salted Caramel Ice Cream New Olive, Grahams Bakery McErlain's Bakery, Magherafelt, county Derry - Sean Brown's bread entered by SuperValu). Morelli's Ice Cream, Coleraine, county Derry - Sea Salty Ice Cream Mushroom House, Armagh - Garlic & Cream Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms Pop Notch, Draperstown, county Derry - Caramel Popcorn New Olive Moy Park, Craigavon, county Armagh - Good Chicken Roast in Bag WholeChicken Neary Nogs Chocolate, Newry, county Down - Orange, Basil and Poppyseed Fudgery New Found Joy, Lurgan, county Armagh - Gluten-Free Caramel Square Orchard Organics, Craigavon, county Armagh - Organic Tomato Relish The Heatherlea, Bangor, county Down - Rich Fruit Loaf Red Dog Artisan Foods, Kilkeel, county Down - Nori Infused Flake SeaSalt Summer Garden Salads, Dungannon, county Tyrone - Guinness Wheaten Bread Stuffing Western Poultry, Lisnaskea, county Fermanagh - Honey Glazed Half Chicken White's Oats, Tandragee, county Armagh - Aldi Porridge Pots Berry and Aldi Porridge Pots Golden Syrup (Entered on behalf of the producer by Aldi) Centra and SuperValu Porridge Whitewater Brewery, Kilkeel, county Down - Belfast Black Ale and Maggie's Leap Ale Willowbrook Foods, Killinchy, county Down - Potato and Leak Gratin, Mixed Leaf Caesar Salad Kit and Mediterranean Salad Bowl (Entered byAldi) Thompsons