With the winter solstice comes the beginning of the Capital Region truffle season. On Friday 23 June, Chief Minister Andrew Barr launched the 2023 truffle season at East Hotel in Kingston.

The launch marks the fifteenth year of celebrating truffle growers in the ACT and surrounds – the longest running truffle festival in Australia.

There is one presence that will be sorely missed this year. The late Truffle Festival Association president, Dick Groot-Obbink passed away in May from Covid-19 at age 78.

At the launch, Mr Groot-Obbink’s former fellow member of the Truffle Festival Association, Lorrainne Flanagan, paid respect to a “very likable and easy-going person, who worked tirelessly for the festival”.

“Our sincere condolences go out to his family and many friends,” said Ms Flanagan.

At last year’s launch, Mr Groot-Obbink spoke to CW about the Truffle Festival being the underdog of winter tourism in the ACT, with its unique activities drawing visitors from interstate and even overseas.

This year, Mr Barr, who happens to be the longest-serving tourism minister of any jurisdiction in Australia, reiterated the festival’s importance to the local economy.

Once called the ‘Limestone Plains,’ Canberra is one of the only capital cities in the world where prized black truffles grow on the doorstep, with a climate that matches the best truffle growing areas of Europe.

“We know it is an event that people travel from all over Australia and indeed from all over the world to attend,” said Mr Barr.

“There will be several thousand additional room nights associated with the festival and its events.”

He noted that the total economic contribution is difficult to predict, as the number will vary depending on whether visitors are making a day trip to the Capital Region or staying overnight.

“It’s reasonable to expect that if several thousand people attend, then the contribution could be towards a million dollars into our economy.”

Mr Barr noted the potential trickle-on benefits to surrounding small businesses, including shops and cafes, but the biggest boost will go towards the festival participants, who are incorporating truffles on the menu or running ticketed events like truffle hunts.

“It has not been a good climate for small businesses lately,” said Southern Harvest Association (SHA) Operations Manager, Ruth Gaha-Morris.

SHA is auspicing the event program for the first time, taking over from the ceased Truffle Festival Association.

“Our main goal is to get as many farmers, producers, hospitality and small business vendors involved as possible and promote their events as widely as we can,” she said.

One of the most enjoyable ways Canberrans can participate in the festival and support vendors is through a truffle hunt.

SHA community member, Christine Ellis shared the joys of her first hunt; braving the brisk Canberra morning, the satisfaction of finding the truffles, which doubled after the first bite of a hot truffle cheese toasty.

Currently, Truffle Tasting & Hunts start at $72pp, free for children under 5, and range up to weekend experiences with truffles served in three meals a day.

Local businesses are encouraged to contact SHA to get involved.

Events are listed on the SHA website: southernharvest.org.au/winter-festivities/.

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