One of my favourite events of the year are the annual Willmark Awards – celebrating the best of the Willunga Farmers Market.
The Willmarks are the night of nights for stall holders, the board, shoppers and suppliers.
Held at Fino, tickets are just $35 for a night of entertainment, food and service by Fino, donated wine and beer from stallholders, and of course the announcement of the winners.
After a warm greeting from WFM staffers, Billie Doeke (Assistant Market Manager) and Alex Merrick (Admin Assistant), we explore the serve-it-yourself drink stations.
A quick cheers with some Rosemount bubbles, then the perfect drop for a spring evening, the now McLaren Vale Wine Show Trophy Winning Spring Seed Wine Co Morning Bride Rose.
The crowd were in high spirits mingling in the courtyard and garden of Fino.
Quenching of thirst was also in full swing, with attendees making good use of the generously donated drinks.
The chickpea salad was richly flavoured, and had a lift from fresh herbs.
Beetroot salad with lentils, dill and fennel was earthy and filling.
Spring asparagus was perfectly cooked and still crunchy, with a salty and tangy burst from goat chervre.
Baby roasted carrots were so sweet, a welcome return from last year.
Dense house made bread rounded out a great alfresco meal.
Farmers, stallholders, marketgoers, the committee gathered around the communal tables to chat and share.
Great gift baskets of market and supporter donated goods were at the ready for the lucky winners of the 2014 Willmark Awards.
Pip Forrester congratulated all stallholders on the 14th birthday of the market and their hard work come rain, gale or shine.
Philanthropic from the start, the market funded kitchen gardens in all the local schools- til they ran out of schools!
Then the great idea from new Market staff to offer the Young Farmer Scholarship.
Next for the market – more stalls, more innovative value added food options, more great local businesses supported and supporting our local community.
1. Favourite Stall : Harts Vegetables
2. Best Service : Bush Pepper Catering
3. Best Dressed (decorated) stall: Willunga Pasta
4. Favourite product: Green Juice from Garden Farmers
5. Best Shopper (stallholder nominated award): Lyne Harte
Willunga Pasta always looks amazing with it’s rainbow of pasta.
Not to mention the stunning proteas.
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And I have a serious addiction to the Garden Farmers green juice – less than a kilometre and less than an hour from the ground to my mouth!
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What do you love about the farmers’ market? Comment below!
Well deserved award for the Green Juice – its wonderful
It’s so good and so good for you! Love it.