GUIDE TO FARMERS’ MARKETS AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND 2007
The RM Williams name has been attached to many things, and now this book from RM Williams Classic Publications continues the standard of excellence. This guide to over a hundred farmers’ markets throughout Australasia is a must for any traveller, or even someone simply interested in learning what these two countries have to offer in the way of fresh produce and individual ideas. The delectable recipes are an added bonus.
RMW Classic Publications, 2006, 460 pages, rrp $19.95

MASTER IT: The 15th Melbourne Food & Wine Festival Presented by The Age, is scheduled for 16 – 30 March 2007, and The Original MasterClass will be held at the official home of MasterClass, Langham Hotel, Melbourne on Saturday 24 & Sunday 25 March. Husband and wife team Samantha & Samuel 
Clark owners and chefs of London’s much loved Moro restaurant will be part of the international line up.  Tickets to MasterClass will be available through Ticketmaster on 136 100. 

CLOSED/CHANGED/NEW MANAGEMENT: Things change, people move on. Please note that Tasman's in East Sydney has closed; Chef Laurent Deslandes and Cyrilla Van Der Merwe have moved on from Collits' Inn at Hartley Vale (P 24); André Chouvin has sold Feast Restaurant at Avoca Beach (P 44). Please let us know if you are aware of other changes or closures so that we can highlight them on this page.

Margaret River Providore: The latest addition to Margaret River's wine and food tourism industry, Margaret River Providore, combines vineyards, olive groves and organic vegetable gardens with the finest take-home foods and ingredients from the region - all on a working farm. A stunning new tasting centre offers visitors the opportunity to see fresh produce in the organic gardens, watch it being made into various products in the Providore kitchens and then sample the products, 08 97556355 www.providore.com.au

First Organic Winery in the Swan Valley: LedaSwan has officially become the first certified organic winery and vineyard in Perth's Swan Valley. The winery uses no pesticides or herbicides and everything, from pruning to picking is done by hand. LedaSwan produces exquisite dry wines and preservative-free sweet dessert wines. Visitors can spend time in the new tasting room or relax on the patio overlooking the vineyard. T: + 61 8 9296 0216 www.ledaswan.com.au

Reminder: Still time to book for the Organic Cooking School at Gwinganna, 14-17 December. Learn the latest techniques and trends from Gwinganna’s team of creative chefs - Hermann Schafellner, Shelley Pryor and Yolande Jansen. In addition to the workshops, the three night retreat includes Tai Chi, scenic bushwalks, stretch classes, and two heavenly spa treatments. www.gwinganna.com

LOCAL DELIGHTS: A new website, www.localharvest.com.au, is an online Sunshine Coast food and produce
directory with over 100 listings of local delights from fresh fruit, vegetables, seafood, baked yummies and dairy foods. 

CONGRATULATIONS!! Murdering Point Winery, (p 164) producers of medal-winning bush tucker and tropical fruit wines, won the 2006 Queensland Tourism Award for tourism wineries. The winery uses traditional wine making methods and modern technology to produce a unique range of exotic tropical wines from tropical and bush tucker fruits. The range includes an organic homeopathic wine, blending the tree-grape, Jaboticaba, ginger and ginseng. More information: www.murderingpointwinery.com.au

SWEET FIFTEEN: Melbourne Food & Wine Festival, the world’s largest food and wine festival, will celebrate its 15th year in March 2007, from16th – 30th March. Each year the Festival attracts over 250,000 foodies from across the globe as they descend upon Melbourne to enjoy more than 150 food and wine events on offer across the two weeks. Highlights include the World’s Longest Lunch (Friday 16th March) where 5,000 people will sit down to lunch at 25 scenic locations across Victoria and the Cellar Door at Southgate (Saturday 24th & Sunday 25th March) showcasing some of the state’s finest drops. The Original MasterClass (Saturday 24th & Sunday 25th March) series is back, and new events include the International FLOUR Festival (Saturday 24th March), a celebration of multicultural Melbourne,  and Wicked Sunday (Sunday 25th March), a day of decadence. Visit www.melbournefoodandwine.com.au or call 03 9823 6100

CONGRATULATIONS!
Bent on Food, Wingham has recently been announced as Champion of Regional Business at the 8th annual Small Business Awards Champion of Champions. Bent on Food is a regional food store and cafe situated in the heritage township of Wingham on the Mid North Coast of NSW operating with excellent results since 2004. Focusing on regional produce, with a specific devotion to locally produced brands and organic foods, the cafe has an urban feel impressing both locals and tourists alike. It's a little bit of city in the country. Congratulations to owner Donna Carrier and her staff.

The 2007 edition of the Seasonal Produce Diary (Allan Campion and Michele Curtis Published by Hardie Grant Books RRP $29.95) makes an ideal Christmas gift. The diary tells you which fruit and vegetables are in season in Australia each month  to inspire you in your cooking and take the guesswork out of shopping. Get one from your local bookshop or order a signed copy from the website: www.campionandcurtis.com

CHEMICAL ADVANCES
Chemical use in many vegetable-producing greenhouses could be halved in the next three years. NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) scientists have identified a number of beneficial insects and new reduced-risk chemicals in a new research project. Among the promising new biological control agents is an exotic ladybird as well as a range of native species also being assessed. Demonstration farms have also been set up so that growers can see how integrated pest management (IPM) works first hand, and are in the process of developing a web site on all facets of IPM for greenhouse vegetable growers in Australia to access. The research is being supported by vegetable growers through Horticulture Australia Limited. Contact: Dr Leigh Pilkington, Narara, (02) 4348 1953 or leigh.pilkington@dpi.nsw.gov.au

ANCIENT GRAIN COMEBACK
Organic farmers are set to lift yields as a research project evaluates 63 spelt lines for their ability to thrive in local conditions. NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) senior research scientist, David Luckett, said farmers were getting a premium price for organic spelt but with demand outstripping local supply, processors have been forced to source grain from overseas. Funded by the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation and Biological Farmers of Australia, the EH Graham Centre (NSW DPI in collaboration with Charles Sturt University) last year grew plants at its Wagga Wagga glasshouse to produce enough seed to trial in the field this year. A spelt field day at Yanko Agricultural Institute will take place on Thursday December 7, for more information contact Dr David Luckett, ph (02) 6938 1835 or Robyn Neeson, ph (02) 6951 2735.

THIS LITTLE PIGGY........
An innovative alternative to using antibiotics in piggeries is being trialled by scientists from the Elizabeth Macarthur Agriculture Institute near Sydney. Probiotics, used in humans to promote gut health, are being fed to intensively-reared pigs to stimulate the growth of beneficial bacteria in the intestine, and prime the immune system. It is hoped that  a combination of probiotics used at birth and after weaning could provide “a complete process” for managing pig health, and reduce over-reliance on antibiotics. A new three year research project is being funded with the help of the Pork Cooperative Research Centre and International Animal Health. Contact: Dr James Chin, Menangle, on 61 2 4640 6359 or james.chin@dpi.nsw.gov.au.

Organic Cooking School at Gwinganna, Qld, 14-17 December. Set on over 400 acres in the Gold Coast hinterland, Gwinganna has scheduled a final Organic Cooking School focusing on the preparation lighter, summer dishes with some great ideas for snacks and entertaining using a variety of organic produce. Packages available, details: www.gwinganna.com 

BRISBANE FESTIVE MARKETS
Jan Power’s Christmas Market, 23 December,  from 6am to 12noon, will be a celebration of music, dancing, choirs, trees and delicious fresh produce. Find everything you need for the holiday season in one unique shopping destination. The Powerhouse, New Farm. www.janpower.com.au
Jan Power’s New Years Eve Market, 31 December. Special night market in Blackwood Street, Mitchelton, perfect for people looking to celebrate with a little less debauchery. See in the New Year with delicious food, fun and festivity in a warm community atmosphere. www.janpower.com

Lake House, Daylesford, has always been a passionate supporter of regional produce. Their fourth annual Regional Producer's Day is scheduled for Sunday 11th February 2007, from 10am to 5pm, with provedores, producers, farmers and growers given the ideal opportunity to showcase their delicious products in the Terrace Room and gardens of the waterfront property. Included will be a market, cooking demonstrations every half hour, tastings, country style lunch, musical entertainment and more. Phone 03 5348 3329, or www.lakehouse.com.au

ORGANIC & ETHICAL FAIR
Please mark your diary for Saturday 2 December, 9am to 5pm, for the ‘Gifts of Nature’ Fair at the Hughenden Hotel, 14 Queen St Woollahra (near Oxford St) Paddington (Sydney). Stalls, entertainment throughout the day: live music performances, kid’s craft sessions by Envirocraft (www.envirocraft.com.au <http://www.envirocraft.com.au/> ), an art exhibition and more! Organic sausage sizzle and other delicious organic food and drinks available throughout the day. For more information, please visit www.hughendenhotel.com.au

Cheesemaker Idol’
The Australian dairy industry plans to choose three scholarship winners this year awarded under the auspices of the National Centre for Dairy Education. The scholarship comprises an intensive practical cheesemaking component, farmhouse cheesemaking and a cheesemaker school. In addition to the education components, the scholarships include travel and accommodation costs for courses that will be run in locations such as Murray Bridge in South Australia.  Previous winners were Erica Dibden of Tilba Tilba on the far south coast of NSW and Kate Woodward of Muswellbrook in the NSW Hunter Valley. Entries close December 15, 2006 and the scholarship winners will be awarded at the Australian Grand Dairy Awards to be held in Melbourne on February 9 2007. For more information, go to www.dairyaustralia.com.au