From Farm to You
Image Source: www.bewellasheville.com
How is everyone managing their healthy eating and exercise through these winter months?
Winter can be a time when the daylight hours and colder temperatures tempt us to eat more things we shouldn’t and do less of the activities we should.
One way to make sure your cupboards are full of colourful, in season and healthy produce is to visit a local farmers’ market.
The benefits of shopping locally at farmers' markets are plentiful. The markets are filled with food that are good for you. They are great places to purchase fresh, healthy food directly from the farmer or grower. Fresh produce is a key part of a healthy lifestyle, and in general the more colour your produce has the greater its health benefits.
By shopping even just once a month at your local farmers’ market you are directly supporting local growers, reducing food miles as well as buying the freshest, tastiest produce. Not to mention the fun community atmosphere and delicious taste testing.
Finally, farmers' markets offer great opportunities to try something new. Most local farmers and growers are there because they have a passion for their product. They're a wealth of information. Don't be afraid to ask questions, as this can be a great chance to get new ideas and tips for healthy food preparation.
So, while it may not be convenient, or practical for that matter, to feed yourself and your family solely from the bounty of farmers' markets, you can still enjoy the variety and quality of healthy food that they have to offer. Take some time to seek out a market. Below is a list of amazing farmer’s markets around the country. If you have a market to recommend, please share with the group and if you would like help finding a market in your area please let us know.
Capital Region Farmers’ Market Where: Exhibition Park, Canberra, ACT When: Saturdays 7.30am-11.30am Market fact: The majority of produce at the market (excluding some specialty products) comes from less than 300 kilometres away. The distance travelled by each stallholder is listed on the market website. Market special: The pâtés of Fine Terrines & Pâtés come in all sorts of flavours from free-range chicken to Porcini and port – but if those don’t tickle your fancy, they’ll try to make one especially for you. capitalregionfarmersmarket.com.au
Collective Harvest Where: 80 Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills, NSW When: Saturdays 9am – 2pm Market Fact: Everything at the market is sourced within a few hours of Sydney's CBD.
Eveleigh Market Where: 245 Wilson Street, Eveleigh, NSW When: Saturdays 8am – 1pm Market fact: Well-known Sydney eateries Bourke Street Bakery, Sonomo and Billy Kwong have stands here – you may even see Miss Kylie Kwong herself serving up steamed pork buns! Market special: Honey pollinated around the city from The Rocks to Marrickville at The Urban Beehive. http://www.eveleighmarket.com.au/
The Noosa Farmers’ Market Where: The Noosa Australian Football Club, 149 Weyba road, Noosaville, QLD When: Sundays 7am – 12pm Market fact: Market organisers are also behind the Noosa Food ETrail – a website showcasing a behind-the-scenes-style exploration of the local food region through fruit picking, farm tours, cooking schools. Plus markets and farm gates. Market special: Handmade quality olive oils, olive tapenade and fresh olives from Fat Hen Farm. http://noosafarmersmarket.com.au/
Gasworks Farmers’ Market Where: 21 Graham St, Albert Park, Vic When: 3rd Saturday of every month, 8am – 1pm Market Fact: The Gasworks Resident Artist Studios are also open during the Farmers Market, so make sure you pop in and say hello! http://www.gasworks.org.au/farmers-market/
Slow Food Farmers’ Market Where: St Heliers Street, Abbotsford, Vic When: 4th Saturday of every month, 8am – 1pm Market fact: It’s completely plastic bag-free here, so don’t forget your canvas shopping totes. Market special: The pancake stall is run by volunteers and all funds raised support the Young Farmers program. http://www.farm.org.au/farmersmarketmelbourne
Farm Gate Market Where: Bathurst Street, Hobart, TAS When: Sundays 8.30am-1pm Market fact: Everything sold must be grown or produced in Tasmania and only the people who grow, raise, produce, extract or pluck the goods can trade. Market special: Sourdough donuts filled with apple and cardamom jam or dark choc and salty pistachio. http://farmgatemarket.com.au/
Adelaide Showground Farmers’ Market Where: Leader Street, Wayville, SA When: Sundays 9am-1pm Market fact: Each week cooking demonstrations are held inside the Market Kitchen, using local produce to create mouth-watering dishes. You may recognise some of the faces from MKR and MasterChef. Market special: Ice-cream in flavours such as lemon myrtle, native mint, lilly pilly and wild ginger from Bushtucker Ice-cream. http://adelaidefarmersmarket.com.au/www/home/
Barossa Farmers’ Market Where: Vinters Sheds, corner Stockwell and Nuriootpa Roads, Angaston, SA When: Saturdays 7.30am – 11.30am Market fact: The farmers travel an average of just 15 kilometres to get here, so you know all the produce is local and super fresh. Market special: Fill up for breakfast on the delicious egg and bacon Market Burger. http://barossafarmersmarket.com.au/
Margaret River Farmers’ Market Where: Margaret River education campus, Lot 272 Bussell Hwy, WA When: Saturdays 8am-1pm Market fact: Stalls are given priority based on how ‘local’ the produce is: if it’s made by farmers within the Margaret River Region with their own produce, it takes priority over residents of the Margaret River Region using local produce and those who use products from outside of the area and so on. Market special: Bahen & Co’s factory is not open to the public, so get your hands on the artisan chocolate handmade using cacao beans and raw sugar. http://www.margaretriverfarmersmarket.com.au/.
References:
Australian Traveller 2016, Australia’s 10 Best Farmers’ Markets, http://www.australiantraveller.com/australia/australias-10-best-farmers-markets/, viewed May 2016.
Prevention 2016, The Many Benefits of Eating, http://www.prevention.com/food/smart-shopping/healthy-food-farmers-markets, viewed May 2016.