Taste of the Huon declared a triumph for local producers

The 28th annual Taste of the Huon festival has wrapped up, and festival co-ordinator Gareth Edie says it was an unabashed celebration of localism at a time when people are becoming more and more conscious of where their food came from.

Jordie Kath and Kayden Hine of Sandy Bay at the Taste of the Huon. Picture: ZAK SIMMONDS

THE annual celebration of the Huon region’s finest produce has been declared a success in attracting visitors hungry for local wares and introducing local producers to new customers.

The 28th annual Taste of the Huon festival wrapped up at Ranelagh Showgrounds yesterday afternoon.

Millie Oakley of Brighton and Ella Crosswell of New Norfolk. Picture: ZAK SIMMONDS

The event showcased the fine food and wine of the Huon Valley, D’Entrecasteaux Channel and Bruny Island regions, with a strong showing from local artists and craftspeople as well.

Festival Co-ordinator Gareth Edie said the Taste was an unabashed celebration of localism at a time when people were becoming more and more conscious of where their food came from.

“The Huon Valley is an amazing valley and the produce is world class, and we’re really passionate down here and we want people to really buy into that,” he said.

“We’re very lucky here. We had that really that big connection between paddock and plate.

“Crowd numbers have been really good. I think we’re probably looking to be coming tracking on to about 20,000 over the two days.”

He said he saw the festival expanding further in future years to include more artists and to become more interactive.

“We’ve got an installation here from DarkLab from Mona and we’ve seen a really positive change, and everyone’s going down there and going for the little peepholes and looking at the installation,” he said.

“Going into the future I think art installations are really important and interactive food seminars as well are really important getting people involved in the local food scene.”

Hattie Turner of Lenah Valley. Picture: ZAK SIMMONDS

Stallholders yesterday said the success of the two-day festival had reflected a growing interest in locally produced food, drink and handicrafts.

Church Hill Brewery head brewer Brad Churchill said the Taste had helped him to reach out to new customers who were eager to try the best the Huon had to offer.

“I love the interaction with people. Selling a few beers is good, but having a few laughs with people is great as well,” he said.

“It has a huge impact, I reckon, because until people come and try your product they don’t really know what it’s like.

“It’s good to give a little taste away. I don’t think I’ve given one taste away where the person doesn’t buy the beer.”

At the Phoenix Creations stall, co-owner David Rauenbusch from Cygnet was turning raw timber into wooden spoons with a display of quick and sure-handed craftsmanship.

David Rauenbusch from Phoenix Creations with his hand-carved spoons. Picture: ZAK SIMMONDS

He said the event was a good way to showcase his business to a larger audience.

“I think a big drawcard is people seeing how they are made, from a lump of tree through to a spoon, that whole process,” he said.

“It’s good for the income we make here but it’s great marketing for the year ahead. We do spoon-carving workshops, so we talk about that to lots of people.”

Owner of Masaaki's Sushi in Geeveston, Masaaki Koyama. Picture: ZAK SIMMONDS

Huon Mayor Bec Enders said the event was an important showcase for the region as well as an important milestone in the recovery from the devastating 2019 bushfires.

“It’s critically important, not only for all the businesses that are here who are all local and support the local producers in the area by actually using their produce to actually make their product, but it gives the community a bit of an uplift in spirit as well and some confidence that is returning to the Huon Valley after what’s been a really difficult 12 months,” she said.

“We just continually keep telling people that there’s so much here to offer, and that people could really spend a decent weekend here, experiencing what we have and the great accommodation we have in area as well.”