Back in early 2003 I wrote a feature for Australian Table magazine about the "real food revolution" that was rolling out across the nation in the form of farmers' markets.
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At the time the idea of farmers selling directly to consumers from their own community, lowering costs for everyone and guaranteeing the freshness and "integrity" of the produce, was a relatively new one. Introduced to Australia just a few years before by Sydney-based food marketer Jane Adams, who'd researched similar markets in the US, the idea had been enthusiastically embraced by farmers and shoppers alike but there were still only a couple of dozen markets operating.
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Fast forward six years and there are now more than 120 farmers markets across Australia, with new ones popping up every month. Many are located in traditional produce-growing areas such as the Yarra Valley in Victoria, the Barossa Valley in South Australia and Orange in New South Wales, but an increasing number are in urban areas. Markets in capital cities tend to be a little different, with producers having to travel longer distances (which keeps prices a little higher) and more value-added products such as jams, smoked meats and baked goods available, giving them what Jane described in '03 as a "deli on the lawn feel".
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I have always been a huge fan of shopping at farmers' markets and can be found most Saturday mornings at Orange Grove Organic Food & Farmers Market in Lilyfield picking up provisions for the weekend.
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Being the fickle type however, I confess I may have to abandon Orange Grove this week for the charms of South Sydney Industrial Markets in Alexandria, which launch this Saturday and according to the website, http://www.southsydneymarkets.com.au/, promise a cornucopia of fresh produce and organic food (along with some arts and craftsy stalls for the non-food obsessed and lots of free entertainment for families). Excellent! And if it's not, well, then there's always the outlet stores on O'Riordan Street to explore...
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