New and specially designed local produce ranges incorporating Hampshire watercress will be launched at the Hampshire Fare market during the Watercress Festival in Alresford on May 13th for the many thousands of visitors that flock to the festival to sample and buy.

Watercress inspired products available at the Festival include watercress and lime chocolates, watercress flatbreads with Middle Eastern spices, organic watercress houmous, watercress and pear soup with a hint of ginger, watercress and Lyburn Cheese biscuits, watercress ciabatta and low GI bread, watercress sauces and relishes, organic watercress and pork sausages, watercress and organic Aberdeen Angus burgers, and even watercress inspired jewellery. Says Helen Trebble of Hampshire Fare, who is organising the Hampshire Fare market at The Watercress Festival ��Alresford will be bulging at the seams with Hampshire��s wonderful food and drink as this year we have a record number of local food stalls at the Festival��s Hampshire Fare market. Visitors are advised to arrive early as last year many stalls sold out!��

The Hampshire Fare market at Watercress Festival features around 40 stalls and will run throughout the Festival on Sunday May 13th from 10am-4pm in Broad Street, Alresford, with plenty to eat and drink on the day or take home to enjoy later! Celebrity chef Anthony Worrall Thompson will be demonstrating recipes using watercress during the festival.

For more information visit the what��s on page at www.hampshirefare.co.uk or www.watercress.co.uk. For a free booklet detailing local producers of food, drink and craft, call Hampshire Fare on 01962 845435.

Below is a taster of new and festival inspired Hampshire products which will feature at the Watercress Festival for visitors to sample and buy:

Cresson Creative; based in Alresford - will be launching watercress and pear soup with a hint of ginger; watercress, red pepper and tomato sauce; watercress flatbread with middle eastern spice, and a watercress and tomato relish, plus their regular range of watercress inspired products. www.cressoncreative.co.uk

Pollen Organics: based near Liphook - organic watercress pesto (2006 Watercress Festival award winner for Best Traditional Watercress Product); organic watercress houmous; organic watercress soup. www.pollenorganics.com.

Cassons English Herbs: based in Tadley �V will be launching watercress sauce; parsley sauce; tarragon and lemon sauce. www.cassonsenglishherbs.com

Oven Door Bakery: based in Fair Oak �V will be selling Winchester Cheese and Watercress biscuits (2006 Watercress Festival award winner for Best Local Watercress Product), watercress ciabatta and low GI breads. www.ovendoorbakery.co.uk

Rother Valley Organics: based near Petersfield �V will be selling watercress and organic pork sausages, watercress and Aberdeen Angus burgers. www.rothervalleyorganics.com

Sempre Viva: based near Stockbridge: sample frozen watercress yogurt made specially for the festival! www.sempreviva.co.uk The Alresford Chocolate Company: based in Alresford, will be selling their Festival special watercress and lime chocolates. www.chocolatecraft.co.uk

The Real Jam & Chutney Company: based in Winchester, will be launching their new beetroot and ginger chutney, which they advise, tastes great with watercress, and their new sweet chilli sauce. www.realjam.co.uk Hammer Trout Farm, Smokery & Fishery: based in Liphook, will be selling fresh watercress, perfect accompaniment to their smoked fish range. Tel 01428 727508

Tinklertastic: based in Winchester, is selling watercress inspired jewellery including pendants, earrings and cufflinks. www.tinklertastic.co.uk

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For more information about the Hampshire Fare market at The Watercress Festival, please call Helen Trebble, Events Officer for Hampshire Fare on 01962 846509 or email helen.trebble@hants.gov.uk

Hampshire Fare is the county food group and is supported by Hampshire County Council and SEEDA (South East England Development Agency). Our main aims are to: Increase awareness among the public and trade of the wide range of local produce available Foster good business practice and assist producers to compete as viable enterprises To encourage high standards of production and presentation To organise marketing activities - festivals, exhibitions and promotions -to promote food, drink and craft from Hampshire Develop initiatives to incorporate local food and drink into public sector menus