For a small market town, Diss has a large number of cafes, restaurants and pubs, many of which are committed to using local ingredients whenever they can.

The town's high street butchers sell meat from within five miles of Diss and fish sold in the town is freshly caught from the Norfolk coast.

Gary Alexander, leader of Slow Food Waveney Valley, which has helped organise the festival, said: "At a time when food prices are going up, due to transport costs, among other factors, supporting our local small businesses is a way of ensuring our sustainability.

"Vegetables are no longer grown on a large scale locally but small growers are beginning to appear again in the surrounding area."

The week-long festival will begin with a special Diss Farmers' Market tomorrow, 9am to 2pm, with comedy street theatre from the Fairly Fresh Fish Company and the Diss Food Inspectors, who will be checking people's green credentials.

Music will be provided by Rough At The Edges and there will be a fruit and vegetable-themed children's fancy dress competition.

A balloon race will follow the official opening of the festival at 1pm by the mayor and deputy mayor of Diss.

"During Taste of Diss people can participate in the festival with eating out, visits to growers, farm shops, breweries and a children's garden," said Mr Alexander.

"They can go to talks about bee keeping, organic food and allotments and – of course – if they love cooking, enter the cookery competition at the Corn Hall next Sunday."

On Wednesday, the Waveney Sausage Competition will be held at the Burston Crown – where the best local sausage of 2008 will be chosen.

Pocket programmes for Taste Of Diss are available in several locations across the town, including the library, Tourist Information Centre and cafes.

Anyone wanting to enter the cookery competition should visit Frederick's Fine Foods in Norfolk House Yard for more information.

For more details call 01379 642470 or 641388.