A Cornish couple have seen their passion for hatching, rearing and processing their own high quality, free range duck recognised at the highest level.

The Cornish Duck Company, founded by Roger and Tanya Olver, fought off tough competition to be named Best Food Producer at the 2019 BBC Food & Farming Awards this week.

Narrowed down from 700 entries nationwide, they were joined in the final shortlist by Cumbrian cheesemaker Martin Gott, of Holker Farm Dairy, and Herefordshire-based Wild By Nature, a community of farmers, butchers and chefs producing monthly meat boxes.

Roger and Tanya Olver at the BBC Food & Farming Awards, which took place in Bristol on Wednesday, June 12
Roger and Tanya Olver at the BBC Food & Farming Awards, which took place in Bristol on Wednesday, June 12

Speaking after the awards, held at Bristol Town Hall on Wednesday, June 12, Mr Olver said: “We are very humbled by the whole thing. We honestly didn’t think we were going to win it.

“When Matt Tebbutt (chef and presenter) announced the Cornish Duck Company as the winner, we couldn’t believe it. I was fighting back tears walking up to the stage. We got so emotional collecting the award that we couldn’t even make a proper speech!”

Leading British chef Angela Hartnett, who headed the star-studded judging panel, said she was “totally blown away” by the couple’s whole business model and commitment to provenance, while Sheila Dillon, award-winning journalist and presenter of BBC Radio 4’s The Food Programme, described their duck meat as “the best she’s ever had”.

Since first taking flight in 2006, the Cornish Duck Company has grown to offer a range of premium products, from whole ducks to burgers and cherry wood smoked breast, which recently clinched the title of Best Duck Product (All Year) at the 2018 British Poultry Awards in London.

Roger and Tanya's cherry wood smoked breast, which was named Best Duck Product (All Year) at the 2018 British Poultry Awards in London
Roger and Tanya's cherry wood smoked breast, which was named Best Duck Product (All Year) at the 2018 British Poultry Awards in London

As well as selling online and being regular stall holders at Truro Farmers’ Market, the business boasts an impressive order book of returning customers including Michelin-starred chefs Paul Ainsworth and Michael Caines, from Number 6 in Padstow and Lympstone Manor respectively, Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen Cornwall, Hotel Tresanton and the Nare Hotel.

Cornish Duck’s principal ethos is transparency, with the couple in total control of their product from ‘hatch to dispatch’. Developing their own unique ‘Terras’ duck breed, the result of years of fine-tuning for disease resistance, strong legs and great flavour, ducklings are ready for the table at eight weeks of age.

During the two busiest summer months, around 350 ducklings are processed each week.

Mr Olver added: “The response and congratulatory messages we’ve had following the awards has been incredible. We’ve been lucky to win many awards, but this just crowns our career. It’s the pinnacle of everything we’ve done.”