THE lunchtime rush brought a crowd into the central streets of Innisfail yesterday, there to taste local treats gathered for the annual Feast of the Senses market day.

An estimated 3000 people attended the Feast's closing event, conceived as a showcase for Cassowary Coast farmers and held for the third time this year in the town centre, 80km south of Cairns.

Hungry visitors grazed through stalls of local produce, sampling tropical fruit, seafood, wine, honey, cheese, smallgoods and other unique items.

To see more pictures from the market day, click here.

Cooking demonstrations helped to reveal the potential of food grown in the region, while the health conscious were taught about appropriate portion sizes and how to eat to stay trim.

For the crafty there were art and photographic displays, pottery, woodwork and weaving, while the kids were kept busy with rides, face painting and a chance to pat a crocodile.

The family event, graced with good weather after morning showers, also saw the community show its support for local farmers, with hundreds signing a petition urging the Federal Government to block the import of foreign bananas.

Innisfail Banana Growers, with help from Tully and Cardwell farmers, gave away more than 30 cartons of the yellow fruit to visitors - plus 800 banana smoothies, 200 water bottles, recipes and other merchandise.

Innisfail Banana Growers secretary Judy Spagnolo said the threat of imports had caused a stir, but now was not the time to panic.

"No one - besides the (Philippines) government - has actually applied to import bananas yet, so it may be two to three years before we see the standards tested by a private company," she said.

"But it's great to see the support for local industry."

The market day brought an end to the Feast of the Senses, a 10-day festival that also included a gala dinner at Mission Beach, food trail tours, a fishing competition and river regatta.

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