Food Editor

From Isles of Scilly fudge to Christmas mead made in Axminster, the region's best food and drink has been revealed, with the results of the Taste of the West awards.

This year saw nearly 1,000 products being judged by experts in the food and drink world. Results included 116 Gold awards, 217 Silvers and 225 Bronze awards.

Among the winners was first-time entrant Michelle Mapplethorpe of the Handmade Fudge Shop on the Isles of Scilly. She won a Gold for her Cherry Bakewell fudge and four other awards as well. "I'm absolutely thrilled to have done so well as the company is only two years old," she said. "This is such a wonderful result and I can't wait to put the award-winning stickers on my boxes of fudge. It's a great way of assuring our customers that what we make really is good."

Quickes Cheese of Newton St Cyres near Exeter once again won a Gold award for its traditional mature cheddar. "We are delighted," said cheesemaker Mary Quicke. "The Taste of the West awards are so important for keeping the quality up of Westcountry produce. They are just as well-respected in the industry as many national award schemes."

The top Gold award winners in each food category will go head to head to be judged by this year's guest judge, BBC Radio 2's chef, Nigel Barden in November. The coveted title of "Champion Product 2010" will be announced at the awards ceremony hosted by Mr Barden on November 9, when the top Retail and Hospitality Awards will also be revealed.

John Sheaves, chief executive of Taste of the West, said: "I am delighted that even in these more austere times the South West is pushing ahead in the supply of locally-produced food and also in terms of quality as well.

"We know that the quality of Westcountry produce really sets the region apart as the best place for local food in the whole of the UK.

Jonathon Bayne of Musgrave Retail Partners GB, who run Budgens and Londis, sponsored the awards for the 12th year. He said: "Once again the standard of the products entered this year was very high, which is a credit to the producers. The awards are held in high regard in the industry and we are delighted to be lead sponsor once again."

Judges included industry experts such as chefs, trade buyers, food technologists and technical specialists and the judging took place at Exeter College.

Gold winners from Devon include Ashridge Sparkling Vintage Cider, Christmas mead from Lyme Bay Winery in Axminster and tomato and basil sausages from Kenniford Farm near Exeter. Strawberry preserve made by Victoria Cranfield of Cranfield Foods also won a Gold award.

Cornish Gold winners include veal escalope from Bocaddon Farm near Looe, duck burgers from the Cornish Duck Company near St Austell and apple juice from Healey's Cyder Farm near Newquay.

In Dorset, Denhay Farms in the Marshwood Vale won Gold for their cheddar and wild berry tea from Clipper Teas. Somerset's Gold awards included The Somerset Cider Brandy company for their morello cherries in apple eau de vie.

For full results visit www.tasteofthewest.co.uk