AT Good Taste we're keen promoters of artisan produce. We like nothing better than discovering an incredible baker, cook or farmer whose produce encompasses and reflects Ireland's rich and burgeoning food heritage. Since its introduction 14 months ago, this page has celebrated all manner of Irish artisan, from jam makers to butchers, chocolatiers to cheese makers, fish smokers to fruit growers.

That the talent pool is ever expanding is evident by the volume of new products we sample every week here, and by the clutches of medals that Irish producers scoop in Britain's prestigious Great Taste Awards every year.

Handmade foods may cost a little more but few would argue that their mass-produced counterparts match them on taste and general appeal. In a crowded marketplace, speciality food producers can't compete with the big brands' marketing budgets, so they have to produce a really superior product, in both quality and taste, that speaks for itself.

Many artisans start out quite small at farmers' markets where they can introduce their new chutney or chocolate or herbed sausages to an appreciative and adventurous audience of food lovers.

Many producers have gone on to great success, nationally and internationally. From small acorns. . .

Alongside Britain's Great Taste Awards, Ireland's finest artisans are celebrated annually by the Irish Guild of Food Writers. Unlike the UK awards, artisans can't submit their wares for consideration.

Instead, guild members (myself included) can nominate products and companies we feel represent the very best in the country.

This year we've found another four exciting producers who are creating incredibly good foods, helping to highlight our rich food heritage and celebrate the diversity of our exciting food culture. Here are the 2007 winners.

Meadowsweet Aparies Beekeepers for over three generations, the McGuinnesses began producing honey in 1956. Today Meadowsweet Apiaries has hives scattered in a 20-mile radius of the family farm in Co Offaly. In early summer the surrounding grasslands provide white clover, blackberry and rosebay willow herb; in late summer Clara Bog produces a particularly flavoursome heather honey.

Meadowsweet's honey tastes so delicious because it's kept as close to its natural state as possible, which means it isn't heat filtered. Life doesn't get much sweeter than this!

Available from farmers' markets (Athlone, Ballinalsoe, Farmleigh) and from good independent speciality and health food shops. Tel:

086 884 4938.

Mossfield Organic Farm The Haslam family are all involved in the production and selling of Mossfield's wonderful organic farmhouse cheeses. The quality comes from a combination of limestone soil and the 70-strong Friesian herd which grazes on organic pastures featuring distinctive natural grasses and herbs that lend a rich, tangy and nutty flavour to the Gouda-style cheeses.

After just one year of making cheese, Mossfield has already won gold and silver medals at the World Cheese Awards. Some of its cheese is flavoured with garlic, basil, and cumin but a plain Mossfield cheese, matured for a year, is show-stoppingly delicious.

Available from Mossfield's own organic farm shop in Birr town and good speciality stores like Caviston's, Listons, On The Pig's Back in Cork and Country Choice in Nenagh.

Ummera Smoked Silver Eel The Creswells have a long history in smoking fish, poultry and game.

They're also no strangers to awards, with Ummera Smokehouse netting a gold medal at the Great Taste Awards in 2005 for its organic smoked salmon, a silver in 2006 for its smoked wild Atlantic salmon and a gold for its smoked silver eel.

The Irish Food Writers Guild also appreciated this unusual product which has a smooth, rich flavour and meaty texture. Eel is more popular overseas, especially in Japan, and with stocks depleting, it's uncertain how long Ummera will continue producing this delicacy. Available on-line or in selected speciality food shops around the country. Check out www. ummera. com Good 4U Brocco Shoots Good 4U Food and Drink Company's Brocco shoots are an innovative fresh food sprouted from broccoli seeds. Naturally produced and chemical-free, the seeds are grown for three to four days in a controlled environment before being harvested. With a delicious crunchy texture and an appealing flavour they can be added to salads, stir fries or sambos for added taste, vitamins and texture.

Available from Dunnes Stores and Superquinn.