Jam lovers and chutney connoisseurs will have a chance to showcase their finest creations at this year’s Taste Bundaberg Festival as part of a new competition aimed at utilising local produce.
The 2023 Jam and Chutney Competition has been introduced to the August festivities to further educate and showcase the abundance of agriculture within the region to residents and visiting guests.
In the lead up to the ten-day festival, which takes place from 4 to 13 August, residents will be invited to submit their jams or chutneys for judging by Taste Bundaberg Festival ambassadors, before winners are announced at the Taste Farmers Market.
Bundaberg Regional Council’s Arts, Culture and Events portfolio spokesperson Cr John Learmonth said the competition had been extended to include chutney after the success of last year’s jam contest.
“Our makers competition is returning with new and exciting categories allowing our competitors to experiment with an abundance of seasonal, fresh local ingredients,” he said.
“With such a large variety of produce available in the Bundaberg Region, this year’s competition will offer an even larger scope of flavours and combinations to be used.
“Contestants are able to enter one or both categories of their choosing and have full creative range on what produce they use and what flavour their entry is.
“There will be great prizes for the finalists, with judging carried out by two of our Taste ambassadors.”
Jam and Chutney Competition information
Expressions of interest for the competition are now open and can be made here.
Registration will officially close on Friday 14 July.
Contestants can only have one entry per category – one in jam and/or one in chutney.
Entrants will be kitted out with a Taste Bundaberg Festival jar pack to help prepare for the competition.
The packs will include jars and labels for entries, an information pack, an ingredient list to fill out, and guides to local produce options and instructions on how to sterilize the jars for use.
Contestants will be required to collect the jar packs from Monday 17 July to Wednesday 19 July.
Judging of the Jam and Chutney Competition will commence on Friday 4 August, the day before the Taste Farmers Markets, where entries will be displayed.
On Saturday 5 August, the placegetters for the competition will be announced on the cooking stage and prizes will be presented to the winners.
