Six Bay of Plenty and Waikato produce growers in the running for the 2014 Farmers Market New Zealand Summer Producers Awards have to wait to July to find out if they've won.

From showing their produce in Tauranga in late-March, Katikati's Kurowski Forde Orchard, Matamata's Southern Belle Orchards, Tauranga's Paul's Tomatoes and Potato Power, Omokoroa's Kandu Organics, and former award-winner Pahoia Fresh Produce will learn their fate at the NZ Farmers Market annual conference 2014 during July 30-August 1 in Feilding.

The six growers entered the Tauranga Farmers Markets-hosted summer producers section of the awards, which was held for the first time this year.

Tauranga Farmers Market manager Trixie Allen says the city markets hosted the event as a member of Farmers' Markets NZ – and she encouraged local producers to get involved.

'We hosted this segment of FMNZ's annual awards – these are held every year – and it's to recognise the producers throughout New Zealand, who attend farmer's markets.”

The awards categories are tastiest pip fruit, juiciest stone fruit, dirt on the roots, dirt off the roots, organically produced, ugly is tasty – and Trixie says the judges mainly look for taste.

'Because product that comes into a farmers market isn't always the smoothest and the most beautiful-looking, like we're used to seeing in conventional retail outlets, it's all about taste and freshness,” says Trixie.

'And because you're purchasing directly from the producer at the market – and that's what it's about – if you've got a fresh product, you know it's going to last more than a few days until you want to use it.”

Trixie says the new summer produce section of the awards is to recognise summer fruits people enjoy at NZ farmer's markets, but while being deliberated on in Tauranga – winners will be announced in Feilding with the entirety of the awards. Winners will receive free coverage in ‘Taste' and ‘Good' magazines.