Looking for the best bread, the creamiest dairy products and the freshest veggies? We’ll introduce you! The annual Eat In DStv Food Network Produce Awards acknowledge the best local small producers our country has to offer. Each year, a team of judges taste their way through a host of products and evaluate them for their integrity, care for the environment, passion and innovation.

The awards include categories for the best product, local food blog, outlets and markets, as well as prizes for innovation and heritage. There are also awards for the best small producer in the following categories: confectionery, grocery, bakery, earth, dairy/cheese, dairy/other, paddock/fresh, paddock/cured and organic/free-range.

This year Eat In has added an award for the best local food blogger. This accolade acknowledges the role that local bloggers play in South Africa’s food industry. For most of them blogging is a labour of love undertaken in their spare time, yet thousands of consumers trust their favourite bloggers’ opinions and follow their cooking and shopping advice.

“In order to recognise local bloggers that are doing their bit to uplift local produce and small producers, we decided to introduce a new category in this year’s awards. We also hope to encourage more bloggers to support the little guys this way,” explained Eat In editor Anelde Greeff.

After nominations were accepted from the public, the judges settled on 10 finalists for the blog award. The winner will be decided by a public vote; you can vote for your favourite food blogger here.

The winners of the Eat In DStv Food Network Produce Awards will be announced on the 24th March in a special, dedicated section of the Stellenbosch Slowmarket on Oude Libertas Estate in Stellenbosch. Entrance is free, and you’ll be able to buy produce from selected nominees and award winners, as well as the usual stall holders at the market.

Where: The Stellenbosch Slowmarket, Oude Libertas Estate, Oude Libertas Road, Stellenbosch
When: Saturday 24 March 2012 between 9am and 2pm (awards at 10am)
Cost: Entrance is free to the public.
Info: For more information or to book a stand, please contact lauren.artus@newmediapub.co.za.