It’s walnut time and the annual “pick your own” season is in full swing.  From April until June every year the quiet at Fontani Fruit andNut Farm is broken by the nut harvest, when busloads of visitors arrive at the farm gate, keen to get their hands on  local produce.  Locals and visitors are welcomed in to pick their own chestnuts and walnuts. Fontanini’s 65ha also produces apples, avocados, pears, feijoas, persimmons, macadamias,  and hazelnuts.

Manjimup Farmers Markets

The sound  of  apples being juiced, busker’s music ; smells of freshly brewed coffee, bubbling paella, all mingled together with the tastes and culinary skills at what was dubbed as the Taste of the Southern Forest Market!! Recently the market collaborated the fortnightly event with a Forum Advocating Cultural and Eco Tourism. Live music and belly dancing, face painting for the children kept everyone entertained.  Everyone loves good food and you will be sure to discover some culinary treasures at the Manjimup Farmers Markets. They are on every first and third week of the month in Manjimup.

The  construction of the $1.14 million playground is underway  for the Manjimup Timber and Heritage Park.  This is the lastest installment of the SuperTowns project  in the  Manjimup shire. The equipment is custom made and consists of a 40m tandem flying fox, a 7m climbing net, water play, cubbies, slides, swings,rides, diggers, spinning disks and scultpures of local animals.  It is due to be completed in June 2013.

The 26  epic 1000 Munda Biddi cyclists  arrived into Manjimup this week looking fit and still enthusiastic.  Comments about the track from Pemberton to Manjimup  were positive even if it was an epic 95 km ride.  Inspite of the long day, everyone was keen to enjoy a meal together with a few locals! With tastings of wine from The Truffle Company,  good local food and taking in  the beautiful historic Fonty’s Pool setting, the aches and pains were easier to handle.

Sunday 7th April the Munda Biddi Epic 100 launchs off from Albany. Looks like the 26 riders will be passing Clover Cottage around 15th/16th April. Visit Munda Biddi website to follow the riders progress.  The final link in the chain between Manjimup to Denmark completes the construction of an amazing 1000km cycle trail from Albany to Mundaring and passes through many towns in the southwest and shows cyclists tastes of varying landscapes.

As the Saturday Night gala dinner quickly booked out there are plans for  an extra gala dinner to be planned for Friday night!  Visit the Truffle Kerfuffle website and register your interest before it books out!

VTru

More than 70 per cent of the black truffles produced in Australia come from the Southern Forests region of Western Australia. It’s no surprise then, that one of the country’s most prestigious truffle events is held at Manjimup every year in June.

In its third year, Truffle Kerfuffle will continue to draw thousands of visitors to the region on 22 June 2013. The event includes a one-day festival highlighting regional food and wine, followed by an evening ‘Food Bowl’ gala dinner.  Visit the Trufflekerfuffle website for more information.

It’s a weekend not to be missed!!

Feel inspired to try out some amazing recipes with fresh local produce from the Southern Forest area?  It may be time for you to take a look at what well known chef Sophie Zalokar has planned for this year.  Sophie from Foragers Cooking School in Pemberton offers cooking classes and seasonal dinners from their  beautiful  field kitchen.  Check out the events calendar and plan a foodie weekend down in the forest

With the change of the season comes the change in food being picked, collected and consumed down in the country.  Manjimup producers in this wonderful food bowl of Australia are currently picking their famous Pink Lady apples, Galas.  Newton orchards are also picking their new trademarked varieties including Jazz, Greenstar and Kanzi.

Try and buy at the twice monthly Manjimup Farmers Markets on a Saturday Morning                                                                        . It’s also Chestnut Time at the Fontanini farm on Seven Day Road, Manjimup.  The Fontanini Family is a well known and well established name in the district with fifth generation now growing up on the farm.  Although the farm is famous for its chestnuts, it also grow a variety of fruit.

From March through to May since 1989 tourist are welcomed  to visit the well known farm to join in the fun of picking and cooking chestnuts.  Fontanini Fruit and Nut Farm will be open from 8am to 5pm 7 days a week, including public holidays, until June 3rd.