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Media Release – 15 July 2011

Canberra’s popular Saturday morning market, the Capital Region Farmers Market, will next week host its inaugural Capital Region Farmers Market Stallholder Awards. To be held on Monday 18 July, the awards will recognise the best of Canberra and regional stallholders in attendance at the market each week.

“We know that Canberrans love shopping at the Capital Region Farmers Market. Our stallholders have the freshest produce, best hand made products, biggest smiles and friendliest service,” said Farmers Market spokesperson, Tony Howard.

“This is the first year that we’d like to recognise exactly who our market visitors see as the best at what they do and what they have to offer at the market each week,” Mr Howard continued.

For the past two months the market organisers have been searching for who the public think are the best stallholders in eight set “People’s Choice” categories. The categories will award the best in vegetables; fruit; meat and seafood; baked goods; gourmet, fine foods and smallgoods; flowers, plants and garden; onsite, ready-made meals and food; and dairy and eggs. The best overall stallholder will also be awarded. The public were invited to vote online via the market’s website or voting forms were available at the weekly market, however voting has now closed.

In addition to the Stallholder Awards, the evening will also encompass presentations to the winning apprentices who participated in the Four Chefs Apprenticeship Development Program. There are three levels with one winner from each and a total scholarship funding of $10,000. The major scholarship for the level three apprentice will see them travel to London for work experience at a Michelin Star quality restaurant.

“The scholarship will give the apprentice invaluable international cooking experience. This is funded by the Rotary Club of Hall and the Capital Region Farmers Market which has community education high on its list of projects to support,” Tony concluded.

The Capital Region Farmers Market Stallholder Awards and Four Chefs Apprentice Development Program presentation dinner is being held at The Abbey Function Centre at Gold Creek Village, Nicholls on Monday 18 July 2011. The results of the awards will be made available via www.capitalregionfarmersmarket.com.au after they are announced.