Media Release
6 September 2019
Local producer Indian Ocean Fresh Australia (IOFA) is celebrating after being named Champion Australian Seafood for their locally grown Geraldton Kingfish at last night’s prestigious Australian Food Awards (AFA) Presentation Dinner 2019 held in the new Victoria Pavilion at Melbourne Showgrounds.
IOFA Director and owner Erica Starling was in Melbourne and was thrilled with the win against such high-quality produce.
“This win is further testament to all our team who contribute to growing our lovely Geraldton Kingfish with care, with heart, with brain and brawn,” Ms Starling said.
“We are a small business in a regional town, but great things come in small packages and it is exciting that aquaculture produce from this region can be of such a high standard.
“It was a great night celebrating produce of such a high calibre and meeting hard working producers from around Australia.”
The menu showcased produce from entrants with the entrée being Geraldton Kingfish tartare, with avocado and yuzu, Yarra valley caviar and rice crackers, prepared by Executive Chef Neil Rocke.
IOFA were awarded a Gold Medal and Best In Class last month gaining them automatic entry into the AFA Champion judging. The Geraldton based marine finfish aquaculture company farms Yellowtail Kingfish in the waters of Champion Bay off the coast of Geraldton and entered the category class of Fresh Fish (2-4kg) alongside many other quality Australian producers. The fish were judged by industry experts on appearance, flavour and texture.
The AFA, conducted by The Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria (RASV) offers Australian producers broad opportunities to leverage their success locally and internationally with AFA’s national brand seal of quality.
Entrants have the opportunity to benchmark against set criteria; receive invaluable independent feedback from industry experts; and be rewarded for their excellence.
The AFA presentation evening saw industry leaders and experts worldwide come together to celebrate the best Australian produce, with 14 champion trophies awarded in total.
Ms Starling thanked her hard working team, her customers and suppliers for their ongoing support of IOFA and Geraldton Kingfish.
For further information on the 2019 Australian Food Awards please visit:
Fact File:
Indian Ocean Fresh Australia (IOFA) is a Geraldton business operating an ocean-based finfish farm in the waters of Champion Bay, Geraldton, Western Australia
IOFA supplies premium Yellowtail Kingfish to the domestic Australian seafood market and international export markets
Owned and operated by Erica Starling, IOFA have been marine finfish farming in Geraldton since 2008, firstly with Mulloway and now with Yellowtail Kingfish
Successful trials of Yellowtail Kingfish marine finfish farming in conjunction with the Mid West Development Commission led to commercial production
2018 State Winner, Delicious Produce Award
2018 Gold Medal, RAS NSW Sydney Royal Fine Food Show
2019 People Development Award, Western Australian Seafood Industry Awards
2019 Young Achievers Award – Justine Arnold (IOFA Production Manager), Western Australian Seafood Industry Awards
2019 Gold Medal, RASV, Australian Food Awards
2019 Best in Class Winner, Fresh Fish Category, RASV, Australian Food Awards
Media Enquiries:
Erica Starling
erica@wn.com.au