The quiet township of Yandina on Australia’s Sunshine Coast, comes alive in January, as thousands flock to the four-day annual Ginger Flower and Food Festival.<br /><br />Celebrating its 15th year, the festival offers gardening tips, cooking advice and a variety of different foods made with ginger. <br /><br />[Paul Ritchie, General Manager, Buderim Ginger Limited]: <br />“We take about half of Australia’s ginger crop and that comprises about 4,000 tons of ginger.” <br /><br />For over 5000 years ginger has been considered the universal medicine by the people of China and India. <br /><br />[Christine Houghton, Managing Director, Cell-Logic]:<br />“It’s really exciting now that we are starting to look at the scientific aspects of ginger.” <br /><br />It’s health benefits are still being discovered by health professionals around the world.<br /><br />[Christine Houghton, Managing Director, Cell-Logic]:<br />“Now there’s an opportunity to use ginger in medicines, natural medicines for joint inflammation, arthritis, muscle aches and pains and rheumatism.”<br /><br />With colorful plant displays, traditional Australian stores, and huge range of ginger products, there’s a lot to take in. <br /><br />[Paul Ritchie, General Manager, Buderim Ginger Limited]:<br />“Australians actually consume a lot of fresh ginger. We are one of the largest consumers of fresh ginger around the world.”<br /><br />For those that enjoy their dessert.<br /><br />[Keera Hopper, Festival Patron]:<br />“And the ice-cream is fantastic too. Ginger and cinnamon, the best flavour.”<br /><br />[Finn (7 years) and Thomas (9 years)]:<br />“A wonderful day.” “Yeah, it was great.”<br /><br />The Ginger Flower and Food Festival continues to blossom, and when it’s all wrapped up for another year, the quiet way of life in Yandina remains.<br /><br />Robert Apicella, NTD Sunshine Coast, Australia
