Celebrate Asparagus 2005

Welcome to Asparagus Country!

The Koo Wee Rup, Dalmore, Bairnsdale area is true Asparagus Country - for this is where over 85% of Australia's asparagus is produced. The Australian Asparagus Council consists of 64 growers who are not only committed to producing high quality asparagus, but also to educating home cooks, chefs and kids about how quick and easy asparagus is to prepare, and how delicious it is to eat.

Each year, the Australian Asparagus Council joins with the Cardinia Shire to host a "Celebrate Asparagus" Festival in the region to acknowledge and celebrate this significant industry to the local and Victorian economies. "Celebrate Asparagus 2005" was held at the Cardinia Ranges Farmers' Market on Saturday 8th October.

A Chance to Meet Your Friendly Asparagus Growers

The "Celebrate Asparagus" Festival is a time when shoppers can meet many of the local growers who are always busy in their packing sheds during the spring and summer months. This is one of the few times they can dislodge themselves from their farms for a morning to participate in the festival.

From left to right: Shoppers enjoyed meeting the growers face to face. Growers had both white and green asparagus on offer. Growers Aub Goodman and Michael Motta top up their asparagus displays. Grower Arthur Giaccotto with keen festival visitors.

“The festival is a wonderful initiative,” explains Kevin Hope, asparagus farmer and president of the Australian Asparagus Council. “Being held in conjunction with the local farmers’ market, it provides an ideal platform for visitors to meet the growers, purchase fresh asparagus and learn how to cook it. Meeting the public gives us growers a real buzz too.”

Visitors to this year's festival, who were interested in growing their own asparagus, were warmly greeted by local grower, Arthur Giaccotto, and led through the asparagus production process.

From left to right: Grower Delma Hobson with Asparagus Bunching Competition contestants. Competition contestants bunching and weighing their asparagus. Shoppers checking out the asparagus production photo display.

They also responded with great enthusiasm to the inaugural Asparagus Bunching Competition! Led by Delma Hobson, visitors were asked to don on some very becoming attire consisting of a cap, apron and gloves before they began. Apart from the fun of the exercise, it demystified the extensive efforts required to produce an accurately weighed, hygienically packed bunch of asparagus! Competition contestants had a limited time to pack, accurately weigh, tie up and tag the greatest number of bunches of asparagus. But there were no lack of contestants because they were battling for the prize of a George Foreman Grill with which to cook the asparagus they had bunched.

Green, White and Even Purple Asparagus
This year, a limited supply of purple asparagus fascinated shoppers as well as thick tender spears of white asparagus - much loved by European cooks. Luscious green asparagus - probably the freshest some shoppers would have ever seen - was snapped up too, with sales no doubt spurred on by the ongoing cooking demonstrations conducted by the Woodnook Cooking Team and some of the region's best chefs.

The Cooking Stage

Four local chefs - Jane James of Lavender Hill Produce, Sue Verhey of The Corner Post, Ray Garrad of The Grayn Restaurant and Jo Simpson of Fancy Bites Catering - presented their favourite asparagus recipes using local produce such as olive oil, free-range eggs, specialty cheeses, farmed barramundi, sour dough bread and local wines.

From left to right: Local Chef Jo Simpson with Woodnook Cook Suzi Thwaites. Asparagus & Corn Salsa bubbling on the stove. Local Chef Ray Garrad with Asparagus & Prawn Salad. Sue Verhey, of The Corner Post, whips up One Pan Breakfast.

The Woodnook Cooking Team were on call to support the chefs as were budding chefs from Pakenham High School who cooked, offered tastings and gave out recipes to eager visitors. The young chefs also assisted at the Cooking & Tasting Marquee where shoppers could watch how to whip up quick and easy recipes for everyday eating then enjoy free tastings.

From left to right: Pakenham High trainee chef and Woodnook Cook Joanne Waters. Shoppers loved the free asparagus recipes. Local trainee chefs offered free asparagus tastings.

From left to right: Platters of freshly cooked asparagus ready to match to local wines. Local trainee chefs created asparagus dishes for tasting. Local wine educator Joanne Polack. Pakenham High trainee chefs enjoyed meeting Gus Asparagus.

What's New

Shows & Events

Media

Celebrate Asparagus

Page 1 | Page 2

Back | Home | About Asparagus | Recipes & Tips | What's New | From the Chefs | Supplying Asparagus | Contact us | Site Map

Copyright© Australian Asparagus Council. Disclaimer: While every effort has been made to ensure that the information on this website is correct and up to date, no representation is made or warranty given (either express or implied) as to the completeness, accuracy or currency of the information that it contains. Last updated August 2007