Flahavan’s are delighted to once again announce their Oat Grower of the Year Award competition for 2024. This prestigious award recognises the outstanding efforts and dedication of both Conventional and Organic Oat Growers in producing top-quality oats.
The Waterford-based family food business, who have been producing Ireland’s favourite porridge for more than 200 years, will evaluate their growers based on Overall Grain Quality, considering factors such as kernel content, bushel weight, moisture levels, aroma, flavour, colour, and cleanliness. Independent agronomist Ciaran Collins is a tillage specialist from Teagasc and his task will be to review the shortlisted growers from each category narrowing down the field to four finalists in each.
The finalists will then be reviewed in more detail by Ciaran Collins to assess overall Grower Excellence, which will encompass cereal knowledge, farm practices and techniques, as well as environmental and sustainability efforts. Based on these evaluations, Ciaran will select the overall winner in each category.
Flahavan’s source their conventional oats from within a 60-mile radius of the Mill at Kilmacthomas, Co. Waterford. The company has also made it a priority to source its requirement of organic oats from the Irish market. Last year’s winners of the “Flahavan’s Oat Grower of the Year Awards” Conventional Oats category were the Keane family of Cappoquin Estate, where Charles Keane was one of the first Irish growers to introduce tramlines to Irish cereal growing in the 1980’s.
Meanwhile, Evan Delaney who has been farming tillage crops plus a small area for livestock around the house with his family at Red City, Fethard, Co. Tipperary picked up the overall award in the Organic Oat Growers category. Both growers demonstrated top quality Oats grown with due consideration for the environment.
Johnny Flahavan, Operations Manager at Flahavan’s, expressed his enthusiasm about launching the awards again this harvest, emphasising the very important role that growers play in delivering high-quality oats to Flahavan’s customers. The competition provides a platform to recognise their hard work, dedication, and commitment to excellence.
Each finalist will be rewarded with a luxury Flahavan’s hamper, while the overall winners will receive the prestigious title of ‘Flahavan’s Oat Grower of the Year 2024’, along with a Waterford Crystal Trophy and a monetary prize.
The winners of the Oat Grower of the Year Award will be announced in early October 2024.
