Horowhenua’s trail of tasty treats

Eel pate and freeze dried bananas are some of the delicacies on offer at a Horowhenua food trail.

Nine producers, including Tendertips Asparagus and RJ’S Licorice, are participating in the region’s first Taste Trail on Saturday.

Organisor Kristy Mcgregor said the idea came from wanting to create a longtable dinner with produce from Horowhenua.

She then decided to create a trail in which people can drive to farm tours and tastings in a food-fuelled day.

‘‘It’s not until you start looking that you realise that there are a lot of good food producers in our back yard,’’ she said.

‘‘In the future, we’ve got great vision to expand that to a festival.’’

But her current focus was on the first Taste Trail, whether there was rain, hail or shine.

Levin Eel Trading will open it’s factory doors to give food-lovers a taste of smoked eel, fresh eel and pate.

Owner Erik Kuijten said the event was a chance to showcase some of the delicious products in the region.

‘‘There will be a tour of our processing area, which is usually closed to the public.

‘‘We’ve got a live product, that’s sort of different to your everyday thing.’’

Children could guess the weight of an eel and get up close to the tanks for eel petting.

Country Treats owner Craig Cameron said the open day would give people an idea of what could be done with everyday fruit, such as apples and bananas.

The business makes freeze-dried fruit and nuts.

‘‘It takes 90 kilograms of fruit to make 8kg of freeze-dried fruit.’’

This way, the flavour was intensified immensely, Cameron said.

Freeze-dried bananas, apples and pineapples were on the tasting plate.

The Horowhenua Taste Trail is on Saturday from 10am to 4pm.