Steyning & District Food and Drink Festival gets off to a good start

The Steyning & District Food and Drink Festival enjoyed Saturday a humdinger of a start as the sun shone brightly for the event’s opening day.
The prize winners SUS-200809-145000001The prize winners SUS-200809-145000001
The prize winners SUS-200809-145000001

On Saturday, September 6, the farmers’ market was abuzz with happy people enjoying the morning while purchasing from the wide selection on offer from the market stalls.

To complete the scene, it was also the allotment competition prize giving with the two judges – Lou Crush and Eddie Woodward – on hand to announce the winners.

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Reina Alston, from the festival committee, said: “The judging – which had taken place in July to catch the growing season - had taken three days as this year the standard was so high.

“It was obvious that because of the lockdown, being outside and ‘growing your own’, had become high on the list of things to do.

“Rushfield Plant Centre at Poynings, had very kindly donated generous gift vouchers to third place and Higgidy Pies had given goodie bags – bursting with their produce and other gifts – which were awarded to all prize winners. The champion also received a ‘trowel and fork’ trophy.”

First prize and champion allotment holder went to Mike Piper (Upper Beeding Allotments); second prize went to Fran Wedderburn and third prize to Alison Brown (both from Rubilees Allotments). Two awards given for the most-commended newcomers went to Lucy Nacson Comers and Arthur Stovell with their Canada Gardens plot and Laura Gosset and Martin, from Upper Beeding Allotments.

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Special prize for ‘allotment to inspire’ went to Stephen Nightingale – who was last year’s champion (Rubilees Allotment). Meanwhile, festival sponsor Cocoa Loco kept the town busy by holding chocolate tasting at Sussex Produce.

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