Two area producers won at meat competition

Ontario's Finest Meat Competition winners were announced here last month as part of the Ontario Independent Meat Processors annual conference.

More than 100 premium meat or poultry products were submitted and judging took place in January.

The competition is intended to promote the innovative, high quality products that Ontario's meat processors have to offer.

Entries were evaluated by food industry professionals.

Judging was based on taste, aroma, texture, consumer and visual appeal, and the top three entries from each category were selected based on the judges' combined scores. The two area winners were:

- Stemmler Meats & Cheese Inc., Heidelberg, for Montreal Smoked Bacon; and

-  West Grey Premium Beef, Durham, for Ontario's Pride Strip loin Steak.

Winners will have their products featured in a recipe developed by Chef Nicole Young, and each recipe will be photographed and promoted in the 2010 meat producers’ 30th anniversary calendar.