Guests stuffed with straw attracted a lot of attention at the Tauranga Farmers' Market this morning as part of the annual Spring Festival.

The scarecrows were the creations of stall holders, who each year design a scarecrow representing their business and enter the festival competition.

John and Mary Beddow with Scare'M who was second equal. Photos: Tracy Hardy.

Lyn Jenner with the winning scarecrow, Lettee.

Kaimai Lettuce took the top spot for the second year in a row.

Winning scarecrow maker Lyn Jenner says Lettee is just an off spin of herself.

This is the second year in a row Lyn has won the competition.

'Her skirt is made from stuff from the patch. She has a walnut and an orange for a smile.

'Lettee the name comes from my great-gran who used to call Lettee as a child.”
Lyn says her scarecrow from last year had a full apron made out of lettuce and this year Lettee has a mini-skirt and legs.

Second equal was Letitia with makers Chris Miller and Joel Tuitufu.

Vicki Diggelmann and Mister Has Bean.

Tauranga Farmers' Market manager Trixie Allen says the day has gone brilliantly.

She says there were about eight scarecrows brought in to take place in the scarecrow competition.

'A couple forgot to come along. It's been really great from the stall holders' perspective. Wonderful creations and as far as the morning goes, the stall holders are all here.”

Peter Blakeway doing cooking demonstrations at the market today.

Chef Peter Blakeway was also cooking up a storm at the market, held each Saturday at Tauranga Primary School on Cameron Road, delivering mouth-watering dishes to those who were on hand to taste them.

'The first two recipes he delivered were absolutely tasty and the smell was brilliant.”

Trixie says Peter is the host of a television series called Taste From Our Land.

The programmes will focus on local food producers of the Bay of Plenty region and their passion for what they do – and connecting their enthusiasm with creative skills and the love of food held by local chefs.