Food news: the good, the bad & the bacon

21st August 2021 | Eativity editors

This week was a great one for some people in the Australian food industry, with the big winners in the 2021 delicious. produce awards being announced. However, for those in Sydney and Melbourne’s beleaguered hospitality industry, things are still looking pretty grim. Sadly, one of Sydney’s most iconic Chinese restaurants has had to close its doors, breaking the hearts of late-night diners and XO sauce-lovers across the city. But despite the COVID blight on the Australian food landscape, there was still plenty of good food news to go around. And so, from crazy delicious bacon and transformative truffles to award-winning avocados, we bring you all the latest updates in Australian food.

Food news: Australian avocados wins advertising award
Aussie avos hit gold with their ad campaign.

That’s gold for Australian avocados

Australian Avocados’ “Our Green Gold” advertising campaign was the fan-favourite during the recent Tokyo Olympics coverage, winning Channel Seven’s million-dollar advertising contest. As a result, Australian Avocados scores $1 million worth of free ad placement during Seven’s biggest TV moments over the next nine months. The campaign starred comedian and actor Nazeem Hussain. Created by Hort Innovation, it was voted the winner of the competition via a public poll that ran during the Olympics.

Food news: Delite mandarins
All the flavour, none of the seeds: this mandarin is a delite.

Aussie fruit hits sweet milestone

The Australian Delite mandarin is celebrating its 10th season. Twenty million pieces of fruit are expected to be harvested this year. These naturally seedless mandarins, which are produced in NSW, Victoria and WA, are not genetically modified to be seed-free. Rather, it’s down to where the fruit is grown. Delite mandarins are isolated from pollen sources, and it’s pollen that causes the development of seeds. These sweet, juicy mandarins are marketed exclusively by the Nutrano Produce Group, which has launched a new marketing campaign to mark the fruit’s 10th birthday. You can find them at Woolworths.

Farmers: part of the climate solution
West Gippsland dairy farmer and veterinarian Tess Butler features in the initiative.

Farmers: part of the climate solution

A new initiative by the National Farmers’ Federation is sharing stories of the climate action Aussie farmers are taking. Australian Farms – Where Real Climate Action Happens tells the stories of our farmers. These guys take their responsibility as environmental stewards of 51 percent of the Australian landscape seriously. Since 2005, Aussie agriculture has reduced its emissions by 65 percent. This was achieved through new practices and technologies. These include rotational grazing, low-till cropping and converting animal waste to energy.

CSIRO sustainable lunchbox challenge
Can you build a sustainable lunchbox?

Tuck into a healthy, sustainable challenge

A “digital lunchbox” created by the CSIRO aims to get people thinking about making healthy and sustainable food choices. The CSIRO Tuckerbox provides nutrition and sustainability ratings for a range of foods. You add them to your lunchbox in different combinations to improve your score. It also gives a taste of the food we could be eating by 2050.

Food news: Campos father's day deal
Is your dad superior? Of course he is.

Campos is treating dads this Father’s Day

This Father’s Day, Campos Coffee is doing something special for all the coffee-loving dads out there. Campos’ signature Superior Blend has received a limited-edition makeover with a twist. All coffee information has now been replaced by a “dad joke”. It’s the perfect gift with a bit of a “roast” for the number one dad in your life. As a bonus crowd-pleaser, Campos is also offering a free stubby holder with their Signature Blend for a limited time. But make sure you get in quick, as quantities are limited.

Food news: Golden Century shuts its doors
Golden Century’s pipis in XO sauce built up a cult following.

Iconic Sydney restaurant shuts its doors

After 31 years of pipis in XO sauce and other Cantonese delicacies, the Golden Century has gone into administration. Possibly the best-known Chinese restaurant in Sydney, the Golden Century has had some pretty famous faces appear at its tables. Lady Gaga, Rihanna and President George Bush have all eaten there. It was also a favourite late-night haunt of chefs looking for a good feed after their own shift had finished. The end of such a beloved Sydney institution is a sign of just how much hospitality businesses are struggling.

Food news: Cheese Therapy launches Artisans Bend
Sam Penny and Helen Shadforth of Cheese Therapy are expanding their operations.

New “Etsy” of Aussie artisan food to be launched

Cheese Therapy, the champion of Australian artisan cheesemakers, is launching Artisans Bend, a new e-commerce platform that extends the organisation’s support of Australian small food producers beyond cheese into all things artisanal. Co-founder Sam Penny says the platform will be a new shopping experience where Australians get to explore and support producers. It will also allow artisans to share their passions and stories. Cheese Therapy has been a runaway success. It became an overnight success in 2020 when it launched a cheese “therapy box” to support cheesemakers impacted by bushfires.

Ridiculously delicious
It’s a peanut lover’s dream come true…

Ridiculously delicious and 100% Aussie

Australian peanut butter brand Ridiculously Delicious has launched a new range of peanut spreads and snacks. The Aussie brand already offers delicious home-style peanut butter cookie chips, peanut butter bars and traditional peanut butter. Now they’ve introduced chocolate peanut butters, peanut brittle and “Crazy Crunch” peanut butter to the line-up. Each product contains locally sourced and manufactured ingredients. And all products are made using 100 percent Australian peanuts grown around the “peanut capital” of Kingaroy in Queensland. You can find them in independent supermarkets and health food stores.

Food news: Saltsmith bacon
Don’t be rash, be rasher: Saltsmith’s bacon is next-level bacon heaven.

You’re bacon me hungry

Speaking of ridiculously delicious, Melbourne’s Saltsmith is pushing the bacon boundaries. Its handmade, free-range bacon will challenge your perceptions of the humble rasher. The team combines Victoria’s best free-range pork with innovative processing techniques to create a unique product. While most producers focus their range on different cuts, at Saltsmith you’ll only find streaky bacon. But each product is cured and smoked differently to create new-world flavours. It’s bacon like you’ve never experienced it before. You can find it at Queen Victoria Market every Saturday, St Ali‘s deli or online at saltsmith.com.au

Food news: Geezy Go
Geezy Go is the second super-fast grocery delivery to launch in a matter of weeks.

Geezy, that was quick

Another week, another online grocery delivery service. Geezy Go, Australia’s newest on-demand food and grocery delivery service, is offering delivery to your door in less than 20 minutes. Geezy Go is currently servicing 60+ suburbs in the CBD, inner west and upper north shore of Sydney. Further sites are earmarked for roll-out across Australia over the next six to 12 months. And the average delivery time is just 11 minutes. There’s no minimum spend and the delivery fee is only $3.99. The service is open from 10am to 6pm every day.

Australian Truffle Traders
Gavin Booth hunting truffles with Molly the truffle dog.

Truffle season is (almost) over

Truffle season ends in just a few short weeks. Gavin Booth, owner of Australian Truffle Traders, says more people than ever are enjoying truffles at home. Like any restaurant supplier, lockdowns definitely affected commercial sales. But the flip-side is that consumer sales are strong. If you haven’t indulged in truffles yet, get in quick before the season is over. Once harvested, truffles will last in the fridge for around two to three weeks. But if you want them to last longer, make truffle butter and freeze it.

Food news

Also in food news this week

This week, Eativity shared some top tips on how to eat your way to a healthier microbiome. We also cooked up tasty plant-based versions of classic Aussie family favourite dishes. NSW oyster farmers‘ resilience and fortitude also inspired us, and we found out why it’s about time we all stopped treating soil like, well, dirt. Finally, we shone a light on the amazing producers who were the ultimate winners of the 2021 delicious. produce awards.

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