SUPPLIERS of food and drink from throughout the South West have been signing up to take part in the sixth annual Plymouth Flavour Fest this summer.

More than half of the festival's 120 stalls have already been allocated for the three-date event, which runs from Friday, August 14 until Sunday, August 16.

Flavour Fest – the UK's biggest free entry farmer's market – has become an important date in the South West's food calendar and is one of Plymouth Summer Festival's key events.

The event sees the Piazza transformed into a bustling, Continental-style market offering a large array of different food and drink.

The organisers, Plymouth City Centre Company, have created new payment options to help exhibitors spread the cost of a stand this year in light of the recession.

Eve Wooldridge, from the city centre company, said: "We know that the credit crunch is affecting producers and sellers and we wanted to do all we could to ensure that Plymouth Flavour Fest is still a huge success with a great range of producers showcasing the very best local produce.

"Introducing a range of payment options and suggesting that small producers team up and take a stand together means that it is still possible for us to attract plenty of traders all keen to be part of the event.

"Over the past five years, Flavour Fest has grown in to a major diary date for the city and for producers. Now, in our sixth year, we want to do everything possible to make the event bigger and better than before and our payment options are a great way to help us achieve that."

In addition to regulars including the South Devon Chilli Farm, Cocina Cookwear and Somerset Ducks, new traders this year will include Filthy Cheesecakes, Funky Cabbage, Exmouth Mussels and Styles Ice Cream.

Once again, the event is being supported and sponsored by Castes Kitchens, Lawsons, St Austell Brewery, Langage Farm, Westaways Sausages, Wyld Meadow and Gaymer Cider.

Eve added: "It's great to see familiar faces at Flavour Fest and also wonderful to welcome new traders too. With everyone feeling the pinch this year we want to make sure that Plymouth Flavour Fest maintains its reputation and having already sold half of the stalls it looks set to be a great event."

Traders wanting to exhibit are invited to contact Eve Wooldridge to reserve their space.

To book, call 01752 304980 or email eve.wooldridge@plymouth.gov.uk.

For more information about the summer festival, visit www.plymouthsummerfestival.com.