Milk on a stick or a vegetable sorbet sounds like a recipe for a disaster, but 15 tertiary students are making it work by serving up some tasty, locally-grown dishes.

Toi Ohomai culinary students, in collaboration with Tauranga Farmers Market, are challenging themselves to create the perfect platter with some of the market's best produce.

Each second year student will be cooking up a storm in the kitchen by making their own finger-food sized dish that uses at least one of the market's produce as its main component.

Toi Ohomai Hospitality Tutor Marco Fuchser says each dish is different and highlights techniques and skills that the students have learned over the year.

'The students have been challenged to do something that you wouldn't normally do with the produce,” says Marco.

'Some dishes might taste the same as the produce, but look completely different, or some might taste different.”

The students have been working for a week to develop a recipe that is tasty, inventive and looks nice on a plate.

'First we got them to develop a concept, then cook some samples in class by themselves before having a play around to come up with something creative, by researching and experimenting.”

He says this exercise is a vital experience, as the students have one-on-one interaction with their customers and get quality feedback on the spot about their dishes.

'This exercise challenges everyone,” says Marco. 'It challenges me, the students and the customer, who get served something they don't expect.

'I've been blown away by what some of the students have been able to make. Some of the recipes were quite out there and I wasn't sure if they would come together, but all of the students have been able to pull it off.”

Market manager Trixie Allen says this partnership gives students the chance to collaborate with producers and not just go to conventional retail outlets.

'I've been amazed with what the students have been able to create,” says Trixie. 'Their presentation is just outstanding, and we hope to do more of this in the future.”

The 'Taste the Market' Degustation luncheon will be at Tauranga Farmers Market on Saturday, March 24 from 10-11.30am at Tauranga Primary School on 5th Avenue.

Tickets for the tasting are limited to 50 people and can be obtained from one of your favourite stall holders or at the market information desk on Saturday, March 17.