MEDIA RELEASE 20 November 2008
'Tis the season for berries at the Capital Region Farmers Market
For the past 16 years David and Kate Dickson have been running their Borenore
Berry Farm with dedication and passion for high quality fresh produce.
The Farm, located near Orange, NSW, has 15,000 plants of strawberries, a two
kilometre row of raspberries and blackberries and 250 rabbiteye blueberry
bushes, all of which are handpicked with care and detail.
"My parents used to grow strawberries in the Hunter Valley when I was a kid so I
grew up loving berries. I used to be a school teacher and I would give students
strawberries as a special treat," David said.
The Dicksons have been attending the Capital Region Farmers Market at the
Exhibition Park every Saturday morning during the berry season for the past four
years.
"All produce is handpicked and packed on the farm a maximum of three days before
the Farmers Market to ensure freshness and best quality," David said.
"We have a long berry season around Orange because of the cool climate and
higher altitude. The cool climate allows slow ripening of the fruits, which
provides them with extra flavours," he added.
The berry season runs from October to May, with strawberries available
throughout this period, raspberries available from late November, blackberries
from early December and blueberries from late January.
"Strawberries have always been very popular with consumers, but Farmers Market
visitors love all berries and always get particularly happy to see the
blueberries reappearing every January. Many people are aware of the health
benefits of blueberries," David said.
Borenore Berry Farm produces two varieties of blackberries ripening during
different months, allowing the Dicksons to supply the berries until April each
year.
Unlike with other berries, David said he and his wife replant new strawberry
plants every year.
"We plant new strawberry plants every year to ensure the fruit keeps its good
quality and size. To help enrich the soil, we plant snowpeas on a rotational
basis. Snowpeas are a good way to add nitrogen to the soil, which helps air it
and add nutrients," David explained.
Borenore Berry Farm berries are available for $7 and $8 at the Capital Region
Farmers Market, Exhibition Park, every Saturday between 8 am and 11 am.
Consumers can now be kept up to date with Farmers Market's news and special
offers by signing up on
www.capitalregionfarmersmarket.com.au.
The Capital Region Farmers Market is a genuine farmers market with over 100
stalls offering a diverse range of fresh food and agricultural produce straight
from the producer to the customer.
All funds generated from the Market are fed back into regional communities and
other projects chosen by the Rotary Club of Hall which founded the Market in
2004.
For more information on Capital Regional Farmers Market, visit
www.capitalregionfarmersmarket.com.au.
Released for Capital Region Farmers Market by Dennis Rutzou Public Relations (www.drpr.com.au)
For further information please call Kim Larochelle on (02) 9413 4244.
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