Familiar from the Otago Farmers Market were Linda McCallum-Jackson, from Havoc, demonstrating her bacon and her delicious new fumée, a smoked and dried pork with just a hint of chilli and spice.
Chrissie Lucas, from Something to Crow About, had roasted seeds and sprinkles for enlivening all sorts of dishes.
She has moved from Lawrence and opened a B&B on the Taieri, but still sells her sprinkles at the market. www.silverpeaks.co.nz Pasta d'Oro had a new chunky cashew and basil pesto among its other pestos, fresh and dried pasta, tortellini and frozen meals.
From Cromwell, Jane Shaw, of Provisions, had a stylish new pinot noir jelly to go with venison and red meats, and a delicious new pear and chilli chutney with just a hint of fennel - it's good with cheese, she said.
From Lawrence, Sue Bertram and Jim Merrill, of Wild Walnut coffee shop, were promoting their preserves and chutneys, which they also offer as gift packs.
Jo Weir, of Gibbston Valley Cheese, had a new pinot noir-soaked Cheddar, red on the outside with a delicious hint of pinot in the flavour, as well as its regular range, including the brinza, a lightly brined feta-style, Takitimu goats cheese with peppercorns, and its flagship Balfour, a dry sheep milk Pecorino-style cheese, delicious on risotto or shaved where a recipe calls for Parmesan. www.gvcheese.co.nz
There was a stall showing Southland products, among them those of Dot and Ivan Burney, of Nutlands Hazelnuts, who can also be found at the Invercargill farmers market on Sundays.
Besides whole hazelnuts, plain and roasted, they make a hazelnut butter and a delicious chocolate nut spread, and dukkah.
There are only a few people who produce juice from New Zealand fruit, among them those at Mill Orchard, North Canterbury, who do apple and other fruit juices with no added sugar or preservatives - just pasteurised to preserve it. www.millorchard.co.nz
Kono, a Maori-owned company, was promoting its mussels, both traditional marinated versions and some half-shell frozen ones flavoured with indigenous plants such as kawakawa, with lime, horopito, with chilli, and manuka smoke, with kelp.
