What do you love about Daylesford and the surrounding region?

Can I say everything? Let’s start with the air - I love the air here. It feels like every breath you take is like your whole body is relaxing and regenerating.

What do regional food festivals such as Daylesford Macedon Produce Harvest Festival offer to communities?

I think it’s very easy to feel isolated when you live away from the city centre, so festivals - particularly food festivals like this one - are a fantastic way of building connection and community through the common bond of food. It’s also a great way of showcasing the glorious regional produce available, which provides a great source of pride for locals and offers visitors the chance to see everything the region has to offer in the one place.

What will you be doing on the Regional Producers Day?

I’m lucky enough to be handed the microphone again, as MC. There is a fantastic lineup of chefs and producers ready to put themselves to the test with what they find around in a “shop the market/cook the market” situation. I’ll be there to ask them all of the sticky questions and keep the conversation flowing. I’m basically the culinary Oprah on the day.

Why should people get involved in local produce and cooking itself?

We are so fortunate to have access to some truly brilliant local produce, and yet a lot of it ends up exported offshore, because there’s simply not enough demand. The best part about keeping things local is that food always tastes better the fresher it is - like a tomato straight from the vine, which means even if you’re a novice cook, you need only drizzle said tomato with olive oil and balsamic, and it’ll be the tastiest entree you’re ever served. Once you get into it, cooking becomes not only a necessity, but a source of joy. I’m often asked how to get kids into the kitchen, and my best advice is that kids learn from you. If they see you in the kitchen, they’ll follow you in and start asking all the right questions. That’s how we cultivate a culinary consciousness for the next generation - which is important, not just for the health of the individuals in question, but of the planet itself.

Do you have some favourite local producers?

This is my third year at the Regional Producers Day, so I know exactly where to go - but picking favourites is hard! I’m a meat girl, so I love Sher Wagyu and Warialda Beef, so I’ll definitely be stocking up on some of Lizett’s Warialda salami as well as Nick and Vicky’s steaks. I’ll also be grabbing some Piper St Food Co. pork rillette from Damian and some water kefir and kimchi from The Fermentary. 

The Regional Producers Day is run as part of the Daylesford Macedon Produce Harvest Week Festival. It will be on Sunday April 26 from 10.30am to 3pm; $12 Entry. A Breakfast with Producers will be held before from 9am to 10.30am.

The Harvest Festival spans from April 24 to May 3, across various venues across the region. Full program at www.dmproduce.com.au