The winners of this year’s Australian Organic Industry Awards, hosted by Australian Organic Limited (AOL), have been crowned. Australia’s largest certified organic meat producer, Hewitt, was named Business of the Year, and its retail brand, Cleaver’s Organic Meat, won Brand of the Year.
Hewitt was also nominated in the innovation category for its commitment to sustainability. Cleaver’s Organic meat packaging has rolled out new paper-based trays made from recyclable and sustainably sourced materials, containing 75 per cent less plastic than equivalent packs using plastic trays and labels.
Hewitt’s young leaders also stepped up into the spotlight, with Ash Murphy and Montanna Schollick finalists in the Young Organic Leader of the Year award.
Hewitt CEO and MD Mick Hewitt said that the awards were a tribute to the hard-working team with a passion for organic and high-claims meat products.
“When I think of organic farming I think of my grandfather, who at 95 years old is still living a natural and healthy life – he helped lay the foundations for what we do and many other organic farmers.”
“Our team has worked hard over the years to become an Australian market leader in organic red meat products. Our philosophy of treating the land, animals and people well has placed us in a strong position to produce high-quality certified organic meat products,” said Hewitt.
Carly Burnham was another beef producer to win a major award, named this year’s Organic Farmer of the Year.
Fifth generation producers at Monto, Queensland, Burnham and her husband gained organic certification for their Bonnie Doone Beef enterprise in 2017, and last year gained the distinction of becoming the largest holder of Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs), following the implementation of a long-running soil carbon project run in conjunction with CarbonLink.
“I feel very proud to be an organic producer, as I’m really living by my values, and this recognition enforces we’re on the right path in producing good-quality, healthy organic food.
“As many people in farming know, it’s often not just one person running the show, so I want to pay tribute to my husband back at home right now mustering cattle while I’m here accepting the award. It’s a real team effort so thank you to everyone at Boonie Doone,” said Burnham.
Honest to Goodness co-founder Karen Ward was awarded Organic Woman of the Year, for significant contributions to the organic industry, and her pivotal role in pioneering a movement towards organic, sustainable practices. Since its inception in 2002 with a market stall in Sydney, Honest to Goodness has been dedicated to promoting organics, ethical sourcing and making healthy choices accessible to all.
“Reflecting on our journey, I'm immensely proud of our team's dedication to establishing Honest to Goodness as a leader in the organic market, consistently prioritising ethical and sustainable practices. Receiving the Organic Woman of the Year award is truly an honour and underscores our collective commitment to promoting organic living and sustainability within the industry,” said Ward.
The 2024 Australian Organic Industry Award Winners are:
Brand of the Year: Cleaver’s Organic Meat
Business of the Year: Hewitt
Retailer of the Year: Santos Organics
Organic Woman of the Year: Karen Ward, Honest to Goodness
Young Organic Leader of the Year: Chelsea Eldridge, Eldridge Fresh Organics
Farmer of the Year: Carly Burnham, Bonnie Doone Beef
Innovation Award: WoodShield
New Product of the Year: Soulfresh, Lo Bros Purple Grape Organic Kombucha 330ml
Hall of Fame: Alex Podolinsky, BDRI
Chairman’s Award: Andrew Youngberry, Inglewood Organic
