Donegal’s Green Pastures picks up prestigious award at ‘Oscars of the food world’

A Donegal creamery has picked up a coveted prize at an event known as “Oscars of the food world”.

The annual Great Taste Golden Forks ceremony celebrates the best in food and drink products from around the world.

Green Pastures’ 25% Sour Cream was chosen as the single best product from Ireland, earning high praise from leading food industry experts for its exceptional texture, flavour and versatility.

The Convoy firm was honoured at the awards which took place at Battersea Arts Centre on the evening of Tuesday, September 15.

Great Taste’s Golden Fork Awards involves the world's largest and most trusted panel of food experts and includes four months of meticulous judging.

This year's Great Taste competition saw 15,038 entries from across 116 countries, judged by a panel of over 800 food and drink experts across 105 days of blind tasting.

Adding to its Golden Fork triumph, Green Pastures also achieved outstanding success across its wider range, with 15 products earning Great Taste Stars in 2026 - showcasing the remarkable quality of its products across the board.

Green Pastures is a family-owned creamery based in Convoy, in Donegal’s Laggan Valley, one of Ireland's most traditional dairy farming regions with a longstanding heritage rooted in generations of local dairy farming and cheesemaking.

Founder and former veterinarian John Molloy started the venture as a farm dairy in Sligo in 1983 before bringing production to Donegal in 1988. Today, Green Pastures remains a family business and supplies leading retailers including Dunnes Stores, Lidl, Aldi and Marks and Spencer.

The Golden Fork win is a significant recognition for the creamery and its commitment to producing high-quality dairy products using a simple, honest approach with a special focus on supporting traceability from farm to creamery.

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Clearly delighted by the award, John Molloy was quick to share the kudos, saying: "All credit to our farmers, our cheesemakers and our team back home - we have generations of farmers and cheesemakers in this area. It's a simple, honest product with no other ingredients." Host, renowned food broadcaster and writer, Nigel Barden, replied, “It’s nothing simple, it’s very tasty”.

The Great Taste panel of judges were in agreement. Nicola Waller, Buying Director at Ocado, who praised Green Pastures 25% Sour Cream, enthused, "Great product. Really mild sour cream flavour" and added, "the texture was exceptional, with a really delicious mouthfeel."

Food writer, author and chef, Ixta Belfrage was equally impressed by the versatility of Green Pastures 25% Sour Cream, noting its perfect viscosity, "The texture was velvety smooth and it has an unctuousness… I could see it being used in a chipotle with spices running through it, in tacos, or melting through a borscht or broth”

Estelle Alley, UK Market Specialist, Bord Bia (Irish Food Board) congratulated Green Pastures Donegal on its remarkable achievement, "Bord Bia warmly congratulates all the Irish food and drink producers recognised at the Great Taste Awards 2026. Their success reflects the exceptional quality, craftsmanship and dedication found across Ireland’s food and drink industry.

"Special congratulations go to Green Pastures Donegal on winning the Golden Fork from Ireland for its 25% Sour Cream. Securing this prestigious accolade for the second consecutive year is a remarkable achievement and a testament to the team’s unwavering commitment to outstanding quality and taste. The award further strengthens the company’s reputation for producing outstanding Irish dairy."