MEDIA RELEASE – 15 March 2010
The Capital Region Farmers Market has once again demonstrated the high quality of fresh produce available from its stallholders with several producers scooping awards at the recent Royal Canberra Show.
First prizes were awarded to olive products by Homeleigh Grove, honey and honey products by Melissa Fresh Pure Honey, and to Minto Galloways for their Galloways cattle exhibits.
“These awards combined with the recent Sydney Royal Show wins cement the Capital Region Farmers Market’s reputation as a high quality market that showcases the region’s finest and freshest produce,” said Farmers Market Spokesperson, Tony Howard.
“I congratulate all award winners and am proud that all these quality award winning products are available to our customers each week,” he continued.
Homeleigh Grove has produced outstanding award winning table olives, Extra Virgin and flavoured olive oils and is one of the original stallholders of the Market. Owners Peter and Caroline O’Clery have always supported the Royal Canberra Show awards because they are given an independent expert opinion and it means they’re always coming up with new and improved products.
Another Market regular, Theodora Andonaros from Melissa Fresh Pure Honey, says she enters to give her husband the satisfaction that what he does with his bees is worth it. She also recognises the importance of fresh produce and the grower-to-plate approach of the Market.
“People are starting to realise that shows like the Royal Canberra Show are about showcasing agriculture and the effort farmers put in. They are also really starting to appreciate where their food comes from which we often chat to our customers about at the Capital Region Farmers Market,” Mrs Andonaros said.
The Capital Region Farmers Market in Canberra is a genuine farmers market with over 100 stalls offering a diverse range of fresh food and agricultural produce straight from the producer to the customer. The Market is open from 8- 11am each Saturday at Exhibition Park in Canberra. All funds generated from the Market are fed back into regional communities and other projects chosen by the Rotary Club of Hall which founded the Market in 2004.
MEDIA BACKGROUNDER – Stallholder awards at the Canberra Show
Homeleigh Grove OlivesFirst Prize: Traditional Tapenade, Champion Table olives, Green table olives, Native Wild Thyme oil, Vegetarian Tapenade, Lavender Vinegar and Dried olives.
Second Prize: Black Olives (also won third prize) and Pantry Collection
Melissa Fresh Pure HoneyFirst Prize: 6-8 items that may include honey and wax, 500g glass jar of honey and Fine grain crystallised honey
Third Prize: Block beeswax
Also won first prize for the Garden produce for their garlics and second prize for their red skinned onions.
Minto GallowaysFirst Prize: Junior Champion Bull, Senior Champion Bull, Grand Champion Bull, Junior Champion Female, Reserve Senior Champion Female, Grand Champion Female and also the Supreme Champion of Breed