Chen Ying's image of New Year dumplings being made in Fujian province won the Food for Celebration prize and Chang Jiangbin's noodle-making image won the Bring Home the Harvest category.
In addition, Chinese photographers picked up four second-place awards, three third-place awards and 11 highly commended awards.
The team of judges, led by internationally renowned photographer David Loftus, included Fiona Shields, head of photography at The Guardian news and media, Na Risong, art director and curator of Beijing's Inter Art Center Gallery, National Geographic photographer Tasneem Alsultan and Rein Skullerud from the World Food Programme.
"Never has the importance of photography and food been so great," said Philip Turnbull, CEO of Apple and Pear Australia, owner of awards sponsor Pink Lady.
"Huge global events-war, famine, the end of lockdowns, the revival of the hospitality industry, the chance to celebrate with friends and family again-all these are recorded in the awards, which show so vividly how food touches every aspect of our lives. The competition continues to be a truly global celebration of the art of food photography."
The exhibition of the 2022 finalists will take place at the Royal Photographic Society, one of the world's oldest photographic institutions, in Bristol in England from Nov 20 to Dec 12, with free admission.
julian@mail.chinadailyuk.com