Southland food producers are not resting on their laurels, producing new products that are catching national attention and surprising some of New Zealand’s top food industry professionals. Local producers have featured in the gold medals each year of the Outstanding Food Producer Awards (OFPA) which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. The highest-scoring gold medal winners are considered for the Category Champion Awards to be announced at the Champions Party in Auckland on May 19. Internationally renowned chef and OFPA head judge Peter Gordon said the results were a "hugely positive reflection" of the "outstanding" state of New Zealand food production. "Judging standards are high and our judges are at the top of their game," Mr Gordon said. "Many of the products I tasted were exceptional, often featuring unique Kiwi innovation and flavours you simply don’t find anywhere else ... One minute I was tasting crayfish, the next a praline chocolate.…