A new festival will allow Tasmanians to tour properties and meet the farmers providing high-quality produce in the Tamar Valley.
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At the 130-acre Muddy Creek Orchard at Legana on Sunday, the inaugural Farm Gate Festival was launched.
The festival will be held from November 24 to 26 this year and feature 14 Tamar Valley farmers and producers who will open their farm gates to the public for one weekend.
Visitors will be offered farm tours and the chance to meet producers and see for themselves where their food comes from, how it is produced, and get a taste of rural living Tasmania-style.
Kym Shilton has owned Muddy Creek Orchards for about two years.
She said the festival would allow locals and tourists to experience produce grown in Launceston’s backyard.
“This orchard is 100 years old and people don't even know it exists and it’s only ten minutes away,” she said.
“People will be able to come out, farmers will be available, we’ll be able to do walks through the orchard, the berry farm, beef farm or whatever it happens to be.
“Come and have a chat to us, see what we do, ask lots of questions and taste some great food or wine.”
In addition to the open farm gates, the festival will offer two dining evenings featuring chef, Massimo Mele.
Mele will present a dinner showcasing the produce of the farms of the festival and the region.
The evening will be hosted by Timbre Kitchen at Legana, owned by former Josef Chromy Winery head chef Matthew Adams.
Primary Industries Minister Jeremy Rockliff said the state had an abundance of specialised, natural product grown by innovative producers in the region.
“We grow up in an environment and sometimes, we can not fully appreciate what we have,” he said.
“It’s not until you see what’s going on in other parts of the world that you actually sit back, take stock and realise this place is very special.
“This festival, with 14 or more producers, will open their farm gate, welcome in the public to look behind the scenes of what goes on in small and niche producing farms.”
Producers included in the Farm Gate Festival include Brady’s Lookout Cider, Grey Sands Vineyards, Honey Tasmania, Langdale Farm Pork, Lentara Olive Grove, Muddy Creek Apples, Real Beef, Tamar Valley Hazelnuts, Tamar Valley Truffles, Village Olive Grove, Wines for Joanie, York Town Organics and Bridgenorth Berries.
The state government injected about $56,000, through Events Tasmania, for the festival over three years.