After what seems like months of winter, there are finally a few daffodils starting to flower and the mornings seem to be getting slightly warmer and lighter. I noticed this especially on Sunday morning when we went on our weekly pilgrimage to the local farmers market at the Hastings Show Grounds.  The sun was shining, not a cloud in the sky and the ground was still damp from the previous day's relentless rain. The muddy car-parking paddock was full of vehicles - from Range Rovers to practical family wagons.  Even the odd vintage art deco car fresh from the Deco Decanted weekend; the car park is a taste of Hawke's Bay in its own right.

Inside the market's winter venue, people converge on a veritable feast of local produce, sauces, pickles, wine, venison, cheese, salami, Hawthorne Coffee, bread and fish - all "trestled" under the grandstand or in the hall.  Busy locals dart between stalls, purposefully selecting their regular purchases.  Visitors to Hawke's Bay on the other hand, line up at every stall, hands reaching for the next toothpicked sample or relish-laden cracker. These enthusiastic folk line up for whatever is on offer.  To my amusement I saw a couple 'not from these parts' (you can tell by their shoes), curiously joining a particularly long queue.  They obviously wanted to find out what was so popular - only to discover it was the eftpos cash-out stall! It is always great to see people's willingness to taste new things and support this ever growing 'locally-grown' phenomenon throughout the country.  Like the farmers market, this issue of Groundwork has something for everyone, enjoy.