And now Austin Breiner and Matthew Dennis have been chosen to judge the produce section at Maitland Show on February 19. Longtime produce judge Noel Jupp will accompany them.

While COVID-19 has sent the traditional show format into a spin, the fresh produce section will go ahead with closed judging.

The farming duo will be responsible for assessing all of the produce against a wide range of criteria and ultimately deciding on the winner of each section. Competitors are allowed to attend and watch the judging.

It's a role Mr Breiner said he was looking forward to.

"I'm excited about it, I'm interested to see all of the fruits and vegetables that are being grown around the area," he said.

Mr Dennis has urged vegetable growers across the city to take part. He said it was important to support the local show.

There are 40 vegetable and fruit sections to enter.

Slow Food Hunter Valley volunteers plan to photograph all of the entries and share them with the community.

"We hope to attract all of the pandemic gardeners, all of the people who have started growing their own food and also people who have been growing their own food for a long time," produce chief steward Amorelle Dempster said.

"It'll be the 160^th show and I'm keen to make sure produce is a part of its future."

Horticulture chief steward Adele Cockburn handed the produce section reins to Ms Dempster this year.

Find out more on the Slow Food Hunter Valley website. Drop entries into the earth market from 8.30am until 1.30pm on February 18 or to Maitland Showground between 4 and 8pm.