Come in and try the award winning Pastoral ham at Thomas Dux Grocer!

Pastoral Smallgoods has come first in NSW and second nationally in the Australian Pork Corporation Ham Awards.

The Australian ham awards for excellence are an attempt by the industry to highlight home-grown quality such as that produced by Pastoral Smallgoods, a small Sydney-based processor whose work has been adjudged the best ham in the state.

Almost 100 processors entered the awards but Pastoral, established 50 years ago by the late Sam Sankey and now run by his son Larry, was the only NSW company among the winners announced last night.

Australian Pork held the search for Australia 's best ham, with entries open to butchers and smallgoods processors who make their ham from 100 per cent Australian pork. Each entry was judged on appearance, aroma, texture and taste.

The judges were two chefs with broad international experience including working in Michelin starred restaurants, cruise liners and premier teaching institutions, and a Fleischmeister with a Masters degree in Butchering and Smallgoods from the Master College in Monchen Gladbach Germany .

Try the Pastoral leg ham, bone out; Pastoral traditional double smoked leg ham and Pastoral honey glazed leg ham