16 | Mid-Western Living WINTER 2025 A Seed Planted in Autumn 2005 The roots of Mudgee Fine Foods go back to a pivotal food industry workshop held on 22 February 2005 - a collaborative session involving TAFE NSW, AusIndustry, and Mid-Western Regional Council. It brought together producers, processors and enthusiasts with a shared goal: showcase Mudgee’s food potential. Mudgee Fine Foods Incorporated was officially established on 30 March 2005, but the momentum started weeks earlier with the inaugural Mudgee Harvest Celebration, held from 17–19 March 2005. This three-day event included vineyard walks, food-and-wine pairings, farm visits and - most importantly - the first Farmers’ Market, held in the grounds of St Mary’s Catholic Church. What began as a small gathering of food lovers has grown into one of regional NSW’s most vibrant and enduring community markets. Now celebrating its 20th year, Mudgee Fine Foods continues to connect growers, makers and eaters in the most delicious of ways. CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF LOCAL FLAVOUR Mudgee Fine Foods celebrates two decades of markets, makers and meaningful connection. Foodie Founders & Local Legends At its heart, Mudgee Fine Foods was always a community effort. The founding committee included some of the region’s most passionate producers - Angela Leonard (Angela’s Edibles), Simon Staines, Ant Barton (Spicers Creek Tomatoes), John Grant (High Valley Cheese), Angela & Michael Tarte (Melrose Venison), Marg & Peter Burns (native fish), and many others. A formal public meeting was soon held at The Stables on 3 May 2005, aimed at building a network to support and promote Mudgee-grown food. From this, a comprehensive Growers List was born, guiding stallholder selection from a 100 food-mile radius. “It was about celebrating local produce, connecting producers, and bringing food back to its roots.”
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