Find Food Competitions, in their current form, were developed from around 1995. However the judging of fine food can be traced back through various sections of the Show from around 1870.

Between 1870 and 1914 there was a section for Food (fresh or preserved) with a variety of classes including entries of fish, coffee, bread and olive oil. Ham and bacon appeared first in the Dairy Produce section from 1904-1961, then in the Dairy Produce & Apiculture catalogue from 1962-1993 and finally in the Apiculture, Ham Bacon & Smallgoods catalogue in 1994, before becoming part of the Fine Food Show. Hams, bacon & smallgoods are now referred to as Deli Meats.

Coffee featured in a section for Articles of Colonial Manufacture in 1869 and there were non-competitive classes for coffee plants in the Horticulture Section in 1871.

In 1995 the Bread, Cake & Pie Competition was introduced, and in 1998 the first year that Fine Foods were put together in one Show, Olive Oil and Coffee became separate Competitions within that Show.

The Fine Food section awarded its first Perpetual Trophy, The Champion Prawn Exhibit Perpetual Trophy, in 2006.

Timeline of recent introductions:

1999	Pasta
2001	Aquaculture
2003	Regional food
2004	Branded Beef (successful trial followed by official introduction in 2005)
2007	Beer
2008	Branded Lamb