The New Zealand Food Awards organisers are inviting individuals and organisations to get behind its ‘NZ Food Heroes’ campaign by nominating organisations or people – from the truckies delivering goods, to farmers, fruit pickers, food manufacturers and frontline checkout operators.
“Not only here in Aotearoa, but around the world, things have changed rapidly for the food and beverage industry. As we move in to level 2 and beyond, it’s important to acknowledge the hard workers continuing to bring the country’s food and beverage excellence, innovation and sustainability to our homes, our bubbles,” says New Zealand Food Awards spokesperson, Kelly Douglas.
Massey University Vice-Chancellor Professor Jan Thomas said: “Rather than skip a year, we want to take this opportunity to shine a light on the essential workers in the food and beverage sector and the stand-outs that have really made a difference.
“The work that has continued to be undertaken by our food industries on the frontline has been invaluable, and I think New Zealand has come to see their role in a new light in recent weeks.
“The New Zealand Food Awards, Massey University and our partner network have been amazed by the efforts of our community to help Kiwis and businesses survive this challenging time and we believe they deserve some recognition. We’ll be giving a bit of love back to the New Zealand ‘Food Heroes’ you nominate.”
Nominations so far include:
• The Pure Food Co – nominated for teaming up with Age Concern New Zealand to deliver donated care packages to elderly in need. The Pure Food Co won the New Zealand Food Awards’ James & Wells Business Innovation 2019 Award, as well as Massey University’s Supreme Award.
• Kokako Organic Coffee – nominated for supporting their Outposts (clients) by donating 25 per cent of the sale of each bag of coffee to the purchaser’s café of choice.
• Villa Maria – nominating their harvesting crews for working tirelessly to ensure their crop was harvested, going above and beyond by living though lockdown away from their homes in camper van villages they set up to protect their workers.
Nominations are open for individuals or organisations that have supported the New Zealand food and beverage supply chain in some way. Nominations are also being accepted for those who pivoted to use their food and beverage powers to support the COVID-19 response.
Give your NZ Food Heroes a shout out on social media using #NZFoodHeroes and #NZFoodAwards so that all of Aotearoa can see how amazing they are too.
For further information and to make nominations visit www.foodawards.co.nz
