Totschnig/Pernkopf: 142 gold medals for regional food producers
St.Pölten (OTS) – For the 29th time, the AB HOF trade fair – the leading special trade fair for farm direct marketing – took place in Wieselburg with thousands of international guests. As part of the largest trade fair of its kind in Europe, awards were given out in eight categories for outstanding regional, small business and farm products. 142 gold medals went to 56 “This is what Lower Austria tastes like” partner companies. In addition to the 142 gold medals, 120 winning products – i.e. “Kaiser” – were awarded and thus received the highest award. Agriculture Minister Norbert Totschnig and LH deputy Stephan Pernkopf were present at the award ceremony and were impressed by the product standards:
“3,827 product submissions impressively present the high standards of the farmers who produce their first-class products with a lot of love and passion. They are rightly being brought before the curtain today and recognized for their daily work,” emphasized Totschnig. LH deputy Stephan Pernkopf added: “The awards clearly show the high quality of food that the farmers in Lower Austria provide us with every day. They make a significant contribution to local supplies in our villages and cities. Our farms not only need appreciation, but also added value. Direct marketing from the farm is a good way to be independent of international markets and directly with the customers.”
First place as producer of the year was shared by the Obstkulinarium family Pohler from Raasdorf (Lower Austria) and the Firlingerhof from Scharten (Upper Austria). 3,827 agricultural products were tasted for the product awards. A few months before the start of the trade fair, the products were sent in and judged by an independent jury consisting of around 150 tasters. In order to find the respective “emperors”, awards were given in eight categories: bread, bacon, Golden Blunznkranzl, pasta, oil, Golden Stamperl, Golden Pear and fish.
The result: 56 “This is how Lower Austria tastes” partner businesses won prizes in all categories – from the Golden Blunznkranzl to the Bread Emperor and the Pasta Emperor. “The awards not only represent a marketing aid for the producers, but also an incentive for continuous quality improvement,” said Elisabeth Harreither, head of the “This is how Lower Austria tastes” initiative, which shows consumers the diversity and outstanding quality of the products want to bring people closer to local products.
All award-winning companies and the associated product categories are listed below www.soschmecktnoe.at/ab-hof-messe-wieselburg-2024 to find; Information about the initiative “This is what Lower Austria tastes like” at www.soschmecktnoe.at/partnerbetriebe. For more information, contact Village & Urban Renewal on 0676/83688569, Stefan Kaiser.
Questions & Contact:
Office of the Lower Austrian State Government
State Office Directorate/Public Relations
Mag. Rainer Hirschkorn
02742/9005-12175
presse@noel.gv.at
www.noe.gv.at/presse