Offaly's Fox Covert Farm takes home Great Taste 2024 award

Kilcormac-based Fox Covert farm has been named among the top food and drink producers globally this year, picking up a highly-prized 1-Star Great Taste award for its Hemp Hearts products.

The family-run farm's products were judged blind alongside 13,672 other products.

Fox Covert Farm Hemp Hearts were praised for both flavour and nutritional benefits by the judges.

Expressing their surise at the “crunchy yet creamy” flavour, the judges noted that the “delicious fresh grassiness” would “be lovely toasted and sprinkled on a salad and would also work in all the ways suggested”.

Made of 100% hemp, the Hearts are a rich source of nutrition, vitamins and minerals, and are regarded as a Superfood due to their nutritional density and low calorie count.

They provide a great nutritional boost to any diet, particularly a vegan or plant-based diet.

Hemp seeds contain immune-building nutrition including Protein, Omega 3 & 6, Magnesium, Iron, Zinc, Copper, and Potassium, and can be added to breads, oatmeal or cereal, salads, smoothies, soups and stews to add flavour, crunch and boost nutrition.

Helen Bracken, from Fox Covert Farm, noted how she was “overjoyed” and “very proud” to have won such recognition from the Great Taste Awards.

“The Bracken Family have been caring for the land and producing crops in Co. Offaly for five generations now”, Helen said.

“The decision to grow Hemp was born from our interest in reducing our carbon footprint and building sustainability as well as a commitment to producing high-quality nutritious crops for the Irish market directly from our farm to your fork.”

“Hemp seeds have been a food source for thousands of years and due to its nutritional advantages, this “miracle plant” is now enjoying a revival in many countries, including here in Ireland”

Following the win, Helen’s husband Joe added:

“As a fifth generation farming family, we have a strong interest in sustainable farming and environmental protection.”

“Hemp Plants are known as “Nature’s Purifier” due to their ability to sequester C02 and purify air – up to four times more efficiently than trees!”

With a strong focus on sustainability in the farm's ethos, Joe continued: “Our Hemp Seed crops are sustainably grown in a 100% natural, pesticide, fungicide and herbicide free environment – and are good for the planet as well as the people who enjoy them.”

“Being recognised with a Great Taste 1-star means so much to independent producers such as ourselves, as it makes all the hard work and determination worth it!”

Recognised as a stamp of excellence, the Great Taste Awards, organised by the Guild of Fine Food, focuses on 'taste above all else'. All products are blind-tasted and removed from its packaging so it cannot be identified, before entering a thorough judging process.

This year, judging took place over 92 days in Dorset and London, with a panel of more than 500 judges putting the products to the test. The line-up saw food and drink products submitted from an extraordinary 115 different countries across the world.

Hemp Hearts are available from selected SuperValu Stores, Evergreen Health Foods and many quality food stores across Ireland, and can also be ordered online at www.foxcovertfarm.ie.