DAVID UNWIN/Things
Genoese Foods co-owner Andrew Parkin, Horowhenua Taste Trail chairman Erica Guy and Horowhenua Mayor Bernie Wanden celebrate the return of the taste trail.
Success deserves a celebration, especially in times of adversity.
The pandemic, wild weather and labor shortages have taken their toll on food producers in 2022, but they won’t derail the Horowhenua Taste Trail, which returns in November for the first time in three years.
The one-day, multi-stop, food festival promotes quality food produced in the district and enjoyed across the country.
Growers gathered at the Genoese Foods pesto facility outside Levin on Thursday to announce the return.
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Kristy McGregor / Stuff
A sizzling celebration of local produce at Turk’s Poultry during the 2016 Horowhenua Taste Trail.
Erica Guy, president of Taste Trail, acknowledged the problems facing food manufacturers.
“It’s been a rough time for many producers with flooding, wind storms, supply logistics issues and closed borders, all of which pose challenges.
“And on top of that, there was Covid and extremely tight labor market conditions.”
DAVID UNWIN/Things
Horowhenua Taste Trail Chair Erica Guy is launching the 2022 event after being sidelined for two years due to the pandemic.
Despite these hurdles, growers continued to see positive results and were passionate about quality food, she said.
“They want to promote Horowhenua as a premier destination for locally sourced food and drink products, and they are proud to be based in this region.”
The flavor trail is led by four founding producers; Genoese Foods, Woodhaven Gardens, Lewis Farms and Turk’s Poultry.
The event encourages customers to spend their money on family-owned businesses in the district rather than headquartered in Auckland or Wellington.
Horowhenua Mayor Bernie Wanden said it met a growing desire for the story behind the food.
“We produce about 15 to 20% of the country’s fresh produce. So it’s pretty important for the economy. And these four companies in particular are long-standing family businesses, not businesses. So it’s a great opportunity to do that.” to hear a story”
DAVID UNWIN/Things
Horowhenua Mayor Bernie Wanden says “the story behind the food” has never been more important and the Taste Path is a great place to tell it.
“People are interested in that paddock-to-plate story more than ever. So coming here, meeting the people making the food and seeing it all being made is a big part of the experience when they come.
Wanden said more than 3,000 people attended the last taste test in 2019, 60% of them from outside the neighborhood.
It was a great opportunity to promote the region as a place to live, work and enjoy.
DAVID UNWIN/Things
Genoese Foods co-owner Andrew Parkin.
Andrew Parkin, co-owner of Genoese Foods, said the flavor trail provided an opportunity to bring customers closer to the company.
“We’re already close to our customers, but there’s nothing like getting them in. They get to know our business and we get a chance once a year to better understand our customers, which is great.
“As far as promoting our region, I think it’s a slow burn, but that’s part of why we’re following the path and why we’re all working so closely together to support each other.”
The Horowhenua Taste Trail was set to be held on Saturday, November 26, with tickets going on sale in September.