Rare and more obscure beef cattle breeds feature strongly in the list of meat protein finalists announced this morning for the ABC Delicious magazine’s 2013 produce awards.

The Delicious awards encourage, showcase and reward Australian food producers, build awareness of culinary regions and recognise fresh, seasonal food that is produced with integrity, a statement issued this morning said.

“Each year the awards acknowledge those who are committed to quality, sustainability and consistency in what they grow and create, along with consumers and suppliers who promote small-scale producers through restaurants, provedores and markets nationwide,” the ABC said.

This year the awards received a record 3110 nominations from around the country. A team of leading chefs have acted as judges, identifying the stand-out producers selected as finalists. Colin Holt, from Hudson Meats in Sydney, joined the judging panel this year as a stakeholder with specialist meat protein expertise.

“We all want to shop locally, know where our food comes from and support hardworking producers across regional Australia. With the help of our judging panel, we are bringing attention to outstanding products and exciting new ingredients,” said Delicious editor, Danielle Oppermann.

The competition is divided into four food categories – From the Earth, Dairy, Paddock and Sea.

Among the 23 finalists this year in the competition’s ‘From the Paddock’ meat protein section covering beef, pork, lamb, venison and poultry are a number of beef supply chains, both large and small. They include:

• Blackwood Valley Beef (Organic Grass-fed Aged Beef), WA
• Cherry Tree Organics (Grass-fed, Organic Beef), VIC
• Dandaragan Organic Beef (Organic Beef), WA
• FigTrees Organic Farms (Organic Milk & Pasture-fed Veal), NSW
• Goodwood Green (Welsh Black Cattle Grass-fed, Dry-aged Beef), NSW
• Mayura Station (Full-blood Wagyu Beef), SA
• Mount Gnomon Farm (Traditional Dairy Shorthorn Beef), TAS
• Robbins Island Wagyu (Grass Fed Fullblood Wagyu), TAS
• Sher Wagyu (Sher Wagyu Blue Label Fullblood Wagyu), VIC
• Warialda Belted Galloways (Bresaola and grassfed beef), VIC.

Winners will be announced on July 17.