MARKET MATTERSJune 2012 KoonwarraFarmers’ Market
Saturday 2ND June 2012 Event No. 139 email: mobile: 0408 619 182
Today’s Features
► Commencing at 11.00am Stan will be giving a Rose pruning demonstration.
► We have a new local beef, lamb & spicy sausages stall! Please welcome Jeff & Maria from ‘Gippsland Pasture Fed Meat’.
► Tania of ‘Hens of Halora’ is here today with free range eggs and point of lay pullets
►At last “Hot Soup”!TryGippsland food forest stall on the deck.
► In case you missed them last month ‘Thorntons Bread’ has returned.
MarqueesIn Demand
An appeal has been made by Stan (our President) for all stallholders to purchasetheir own marquees. The market has 4 units’ 3.0x3.0 metres that are intended for our customer/ visitors and any emergency request by a stallholder. The cost of marquees has dropped considerably over recent times and they are widely available.
In addition the market now has purchased one additional marquee to accommodate the 2.4X2.4 metre site occupied by the Curry Puff stall. This is a special purchase to allow for the small site area at the end of the decking and ramp.
Is This Your Marketing Opportunity?
The VFMA have partnered with Australia Post to develop Farmhouse Direct, anonline farmers' market - the internet never tasted so delicious! Farmhouse Direct is now open and stocks your market favourites including spuds, olive oil, garlic, wine, nuts and more, perfect for the mid-week pantry emergency.
Just like a farmers' market, you're buying direct from producers ensuring you get the freshest and best productposted direct from the person who created it. Visit: and sign up as a Farmhouse friend.
Meeniyan’s Unstainable Farmers Market Proposal
A recent announcement from the local village of Meeniyan proposes a multimillion dollar development of a community Sustainability Centre.Also appearsunsubstantiated claims in the business plans for yet another proposed Farmers Market despite the very small local population.
This raises several issues: localproducers attending Farmers Markets in South Gippsland have not beenconsulted nor have there been discussions withadjoining established markets in the region.
Research would have revealed that there is a significant deficiency of growers and speciality food maker stallholders nearby able to attend additional events. Local producers would also question any evidence that the proponents have that thousands of additional Farmers Market food loving tourists would flock to South Gippsland from Melbourne. If there was a means of attracting viable tourist numbers, other than public holidays, then no doubt the existing Farmers Markets in country Victoria would be applying them and enjoying the results of their efforts.
Recently Jane Adams the founding Chairperson of the Australian Farmers Market Association recommended in an interview in Tasmania that it would be a mistake for anunstainable rapid expansion of Farmers Market’s without the availability of local producers and a supporting local food loving population.
Refer to interview on‘digitalfarmtv.com’May27th 2012 Farmers Market Fan Club”
Ground-breaking Farmers Market Amendments!
It isnow VFMA policy that producer accreditation allows not only our Goats Milk Soap & Bush Flowers (multible producers). New guidelines also leaves an opening forfleece knitted wares Sheep/Goat/Alpaca also Hide Leather wares.
Grant Funding Lapped Up Copy Great Southern Star May 8th 2012
South Gippsland’s Regional Produce Forum
The followingupdate is from the South Gippsland Food Network Newsletter ●“Save the date! A forum to address production, processing and marketing of local produce with the aim of enhancing collaborative action between producers, food service industry and community is being planned.
The group will develop an action framework, identify strategies that build on existing strengths, and focus on new opportunities for growth, increased consumption and production of local food.
The forum will be supported by South Gippsland Farmers Market and Produce Network (through the DPCD Farmers Market Program Grant), South Gippsland Shire Council, Bass Coast Shire Counciland Local Food Network.
Date: Sunday, 5 August; to be confirmed.