Farmers’ Market

The Hawke's Bay Farmers' Market might be the best farmers' market in New Zealand, a vast claim not taken lightly. It is crammed with producers eager to share their delicious crops and creations, and is also indisputably New Zealand's largest and oldest, founded 19 years ago. It's common to see fairgoers walking back to their cars to grab another shopping bag — there's always something new to try and buy. This food-lovers' Mecca is a place to challenge the taste buds; stallholders often test out new products in limited runs at the market to see if they might catch on

Try: Maud and Harry’s Walnut Company:

Many people tell Maud that they didn't like walnuts until they tried hers. Sample the walnut brittle (one piece is not enough); the walnut dukkah with walnut oil makes a lovely gift. maudandharrys.co.nz

St Andrews Limes:

For shoppers used to limes costing $30+/kg at the local supermarket, this stand may make hearts beat faster. St Andrews Limes has been operating since 2002, so has been perfecting its dressings, curds and relishes for almost 20 years. limes.co.nz

Mademoiselle Ice Creams & Sorbets:

It seems like every second person in the market is holding a Mademoiselle ice cream and on a hot summer day, it's a race against time to beat the melt. Chocolate, made from La Petite Chocolat (also at the market, try the hot chocolate), is the most popular flavour, and the strawberries and feijoas for others come from the produce of nearby market stallholders. Owner Sarah Jhean was a lawyer in France for 10 years before turning to the sweet life, and retraining as a pastry chef. “I came traveling and fell in love with Hawke's Bay, and I adore the spirit of the market.” mademoiselle.co.nz

Good Vibes:

The pink phoenix mushroom growing kits at Good Vibes are a market showstopper. “People are amazed at this pink mushroom,” says owner Zane Oosthuizen. “They say, ‘It's too beautiful to eat' or, ‘is it edible?'” Zane and his partner Kimi Knott also sell shiitake growing logs and nutritionally rich native mushrooms. goodvibesfungi.com

Iron Pot:

Chris Willis had a chemistry degree but didn't fancy wearing a white coat, so he tried his luck at craft beers. Chris, who is also a brewer at Roosters Brewhouse, makes his small-batch beer using malt sourced from Ōtāne, south of Hastings. Iron Pot is on tap at half a dozen venues in Hawke's Bay, but the market is the brand's only retail outlet. On Facebook.

Oh My Goodness Specialty Breads:

Scott Wynands has created the impossible: a fluffy, chewy and yummy gluten-free bread that doesn't have the consistency of concrete.

The bread's name comes from Scott's OMG moment after creating the perfect loaf after eight years of trying. omgoodness.co.nz Hawke’s Bay A&P Showgrounds, Hastings. Sunday 8.30am to 12.30pm.

Kimi Knott.