JUDGES took a deep dive into Cobram Estate Olive’s Boort operations last Friday as they wrapped up the first week of on-site inspections of eight businesses in the running for a major national award.
Kate Lorimer-Ward and Simon Marnie have a tight judging criteria for the Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales’ President’s Medal.
Simon, a veteran judge in the award’s 18-year history, said it was common for just 1.5 points to separate top contenders.
“We’ve tried some times to have two winners and the president always says no,” said Simon.
Kate said the awards were relevant and meaningful to the industry that this year sees Cobram Estate vying for honours against oyster farmers, brewers, pork and poultry farmers who qualified after success at last year’s Royal Sydney Show.
She said the award criteria explored what happened inside agriculture and put context around production of products.
Simon said: “Cobram Estate is showing a passion to educating consumers and that it has great olive oil.”
Judges are spending four hours  with each finalist and were shown through the new Boort processing plant by grove manager Dale Smythe. Cobram Estate has previously won the medal and Kate said it was interesting “to come back and see what has changed. But we don’t use prior knowledge (to judge) ... the criteria doesn’t let you.”
The President’s Medal is a one-of-a-kind award in Australia that looks beyond product taste and explores a business’ environmental, economic, and social impact.
Cobram Estate picked up Champion Awards at last year’s Sydney Royal Fine Food Show – Single Varietal Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Blended Extra Virgin Oil.