Helen Jackson
Although yesterday involved a 4.30am start to get myself to Wellington in time for Good Morning I was still home in time to attend the inaugural Good Egg Awards as initiated by the RNZ SPCA and Compassion in World Farming. Presented by restaurantuer Peter Gordon and a clucking Bob Kerridge the inauguarl awards are a sign of good things to come with an increased acknowledgement and support of those farming with humane practices.
In essence the Good Egg Awards applaud those who are not only rearing their hens by approved humane methods of farming but also the retailers, restaurantuers, takeaway shops and cafes who are making the choice to buy these eggs.
While Farro, Moore Wilson, IE Produce, Ripe Delicatessan, Logan Brown, Sky City etc… are probably the businesses you would expect to see there it was also great to see some of the bigger chaing stores taking action. The takeaway restaurant award was presented to a second generation McDonalds franchise holder from Christchurch who mentioned that although there was no research to substantiate an increase in sales profitability for their business he was still committed to buy and use only “good eggs”. In fact the Traill Group of McDonald’s stores based in the South Island – they use 1.9m free range eggs each year but charge no more.
While they are more expensive than the battery farmed eggs and people will use that as a reason not to buy, Peter Gordon made an interesting point last night about food waste and how much we throw out – if we managed our food consumption better and didn’t waste so much would we then be able to justify our purchase of cage free eggs?
I made a conscious decision years ago to stick by my cage free philosophy and even with our recipe testing for nz woman’s weekly where I could use 3-4 dozen eggs each week, I always buy cage free. Henergy is the brand we buy and I am pleased to see that they have the Blue Tick and were also given an award for “Good Eggs”.
Judging was done by
New Zealand Good Egg Award 2011 recipients
Retail Sector:
Huckleberry Farms Ltd Auckland & Online
Moore Wilson Fresh Wellington
I E Produce Auckland & Online
Down to Earth New Plymouth
Hill Street Farmers’ Market Wellington
Farro Fresh Food Ltd Auckland & Hamilton
Lievito Bakery Dunedin
Arcadia Organics Shop and Café Motueka
Chantal Foods Ltd Napier
Café Sector:
Ripe Deli Ltd Auckland
Queenies Lunchroom Auckland
The Luscious Foodstore Auckland
The Good Earth Café Ltd Dunedin
Ella Café & Lounge Auckland
The Library Café & Function Venue Auckland
Eggsentric Café & Restaurant Flaxmill Bay – Coromandel
Triniti of Silver Café Auckland
Bloom Café Auckland
Ti Kouka Café Wellington
MEOW Wellington
Restaurant Sector:
SKYCITY Entertainment Group – Dine by Peter Gordon, Rebo Café & Bar, Terraces Restaurant at the Grand Hotel Auckland
Andiamo Restaurant & Bar Ltd Auckland
Logan Brown Wellington
Southern Cross Garden Bar Restaurant Wellington
The Commercial Hotel Murchison
Clearview Estate Hawke’s Bay
Reslingonnay – Coromandelns and producers ing commitment to educating their customers but also for theirards. This included
Farmer/Producer Sector
Wyenova Organic Farm Christchurch
Sunset Free Range Poultry Auckland
FRENZ Free Range Eggs Auckland
Kirkfield Family Farm Gisborne
Henergy Cage Free Masterton
Wairarapa Eggs Wairarapa
The Flying Fox Whanganui
Food Manufacturer/Service Sector
Kokako Nationwide
The lovely little food co – I love pies Nationwide
Julie Biuso Auckland
Takeaway Restaurant Sector
McDonald’s Traill Group of Restaurant – South Island (Merivale McDonald’s, Riccarton McDonald’s, Hornby McDonald’s, Hillmorton McDonald’s, Northlands Mall McDonald’s, The Palms Mall McDonald’s and Westfield Riccarton Mall McDonald’s) South Island
Wendys Old Fashioned Hamburgers Nationwide
