Middlehurst Station, a family-owned and operated farm in the Awatere high country, won gold at the 2023 Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards for its Middlehurst Station Deluxe Edition Premium Lamb Box. The award recognises the farmer's commitment to producing the finest quality lamb and their dedication to sustainable and ethical farming practices. Middlehurst Station wins this gold in the second year running.
"We are thrilled to have again won gold at the 2023 Outstanding NZ Food Producer Awards," said Sophie Macdonald, one of the sisters behind the Middlehurst Station Deluxe Edition Premium Lamb Box.
Sophie revealed that she and Lucy’s (her sister) parents took over Middlehurst Station in 1998 and have worked hard to get the farm and merinos to a high level of quality. The sisters began supplying lamb directly to consumers in 2020.
The award is an honour for the family, having their hard work recognised, and Sophie shared that her parents have emphasised their pride in their daughters.
The Middlehurst Station Deluxe Edition Premium Lamb Box is a unique offering that includes a range of premium cuts of lamb, carefully selected and packaged to showcase the farm's commitment to quality and sustainability. The box is available for purchase online.
"We are excited to see our hard work and dedication to producing the finest quality lamb recognised with this award.”
The farmer shared that the family is passionate about their work and hopes their story inspires people to support more sustainable and ethical brands like Middlehurt Station.
In addition to winning gold at the awards, the Macdonald sisters have been invited to represent New Zealand at the Rabobank Farm to Fork Summit in Australia, which kicks off this Thursday, 23 March.
Rabobank approached the sisters to present their stories to a crowd of their peers.
"We are incredibly proud to represent our family and country at the Rabobank Farm to Fork Summit," said Lucy Macdonald, "it’s an exciting opportunity to share our passion for sustainable and ethical farming practices and to learn from other farmers from around the world."
Business Development Manager at Enterprise North Canterbury Alissa Wilson stated that she was thrilled to see Middlehurst Station sharing the Canterbury story and sharing the region's beauty with Australia. Wilson described the innovative farming and business practised at Middlehurt station as inspiring.
“We're proud to call Sophie and Lucy change makers in our region. We believe Middlehurst Station is setting an example for sustainable agriculture, and we can't wait to see what the future holds for this exceptional business.”
