The Farmgate Festival will see 15 farms and distilleries from Riverside to York Town open their doors to the public on Saturday, November 25 and Sunday, November 26.
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The two-day open day aims to take consumers behind the scenes of some of the Tamar Valley’s finest agricultural producers.
Venues include Tamar Valley Truffles, Tamar Valley Hazelnuts, Brady’s Lookout Cider, Langdale Farm Pork, Muddy Creek Apples and Lentara Olive Grove.
Event organiser, and Tamar Valley Hazelnuts co-owner Carol Bracken said she wants the event to educate people on where their food comes from.
“The festival is about exposing Tasmanians to the variety of food we grow here,” she said.
“It’s important to know how passionate farmers are about growing this produce for them.
“Farmers care about the environment, and the way we grow things, just as much as consumers do when they’re purchasing their products.”
Tamar Valley Hazelnuts has about 5000 trees on its property, with the trees expected to be harvested April next year, according to Mrs Bracken.
“You can’t get [hazelnuts] that are sweet and fresh any other way than getting them off the farm,” she said.
She believes the farm will be in perfect condition for visitors by the time the festival rolls around.
“When the public comes to visit in November, [the trees] will look their best with lovely spring growth and you’ll be able to see the tiniest baby nuts on the trees.”
The festival is in its first year in 2017 after securing a $56,000 grant from Events Tasmania’s Regional Events Start-up Program.
The festival’s grant will last over three years, however organisers are confident the festival will become a mainstay of the Tamar Valley events calendar.
“I’m pretty sure it’s going to get enough support that we’ll be able to keep going every year,” Mrs Bracken said.
“We hope it gets a bit of a profile to bring interstate visitors down to enjoy the Tasmanian hospitality.”
Tickets for the Farmgate Festival provide access to all 15 properties, and cost $20 for adults and kids under 15 are free.
Visit farmgatefestival.net.au for more details.