Upwards of eighteen new Cornish products were to be found by visitors to the Cornwall Food and Farming Pavilion at the Royal Cornwall Show this year, giving further evidence, if needed, of the fresh and innovative approach to food and drink by producers in the county.

 

Duck was very much in evidence this year with roti of duck (de-boned and stuffed ready for the oven) from Cornish Duck Co; air dried duck breast from Deli Farm charcuterie; and an orange and ginger sauce from Cornish Meadow Preserves as a fine accompaniment to the bird.

 

There were also several new alcoholic drinks to be sampled: from the spirit Gwiras from Ninemaidens Mead to Healey's Berry Rattler; from ginger beer to elderflower wine. Not to be outdone, the non-alcoholic drink producers came up with an elderflower presse and a new "Altitude" spring water: one bright spark wondered whether this would make you high!

 

A new product which was a serious "try me" for all the family was Treleaven's Rhubarb Crumble and Clotted Cream ice cream, and to give your sweet tooth a really new experience check out Kernow Chocolate's Chilli and Lime chocolate bar.

 

The food adventure continued with oaked smoked venison loin, new breakfast table portions of strawberry preserve, Cornish potato crisps, and oat biscuits.

 

All these new products competed for the award Best New Product at the Show and this award along with Best Stand; Best Newcomer; Product Marketing and Farmer-Producer 2010 were presented by Malcolm Bell, Head of Tourism for Visit Cornwall.

Of the new products, the Cornish Crisp Company's "Spectater" came first, with the Cornish Duck Company's roti of duck placed as Reserve. This year's Product Marketing award went to Simply Cornish for their saffron cake in a tin, and runner up was Ninemaidens Mead with their new spirit Gwires.

The Best Newcomer award went to Vicky's Bread for a truly exceptional stand and Reserve here was Fish For Thought which created a lot of interest preparing and cooking seafood. Farmer-Producer was Cornish Pork Pantry, with runner-up Ninemaidens Mead again. Finally, Best Stand of all 50 exhibitors was proclaimed to be Cornish Duck Company, with Vicky's Bread a creditable Reserve placing.

 

The new products and the product marketing entrants were judged at The Greenbank Hotel, Falmouth prior to the Show by head chef and chairman of Slow Food Cornwall Sanjay Kumar, West Cornwall Farmers' Market organiser Victoria Amran, and Artizan Cookshop proprietor Samantha Parker. The remaining three awards were judged at the Show by Antonina Brown of St Kew Highway Farm Shop; Mel Hall, SW Regional Director NFU; and David Symonds of Riviera Produce.