Why I Love Markets
One of the best things about any market is listening to the stall holders stories. It gives you a change to connect with new people, support local and build amazing friendships.
I go into my happy bubble when I walk around a market. A couple of weeks ago, I found a new local organic famers’s market in the Ormiston area. I’m so grateful to have found a new convenient weekday market that was local to me. I really want to see this new market succeed so I will continue to support them and watch their growth over the coming weeks. If you live in Brisbane you will know it is rare to find an organic farmers market on the south side.
On my first visit to the markets, I was lucky to connect with Amanda from Brisbane Certified Organic Butcher. She is also the founder of this new organic farmers called Organic Produce Market in Ormiston, Brisbane. She has introduced this market to South Brisbane to help locals have access to more organic produce. Amanda specifically wanted it during the week for us Mums who love to go before or after school pick up. How awesome is it that we can do it during the week?! Plus, she sells the BEST liver pate I have ever had!! Go show her some love at her newly refreshed facebook page as she may be willing to share her recipe with me so I can hopefully convert it to a Thermomix recipe for you all!! I can’t tell you how excited I am to do that!
Stories From Market Stallholders To Appreciate
Another great story comes from this beautiful family bringing us their fresh fruit and vegetables. This is Luke with his little boy Rex (his lovely wife Bonnie is taking the photo for us). They have the Lunar Farm Organics in Birkdale. Luke was talking to one of his regular customers and I about what would be available for us in the coming weeks. He was explaining that it all depended on the rain and how he had nearly lost an entire crop from the rain last week.
The passion, love and care he displayed for his produce is what keeps me going back and wanting to support and buy from him and his local farm. His determination to “go out on the farm and pick the tomatoes before they split” from the rain (even if he has to be in the pouring rain to do so) makes me so respectful of his passion and dedication. We defiantly think they are the sweetest little tomatoes, so thank you for producing them.
Where You Shop Makes A Difference
What I’d love for you to remember, is what you buy, where you buy it from and the experience you have in that process is SO important. Buying spray free or organic fresh fruit and veggies is giving your body the best start. If I haven’t convinced you yet, try the difference between making something like our Greek Yemista (stuffed tomatoes and vegetables) or any of the salad recipes with FRESH vegetables from your local markets and you will notice the huge difference in quality, resulting in a massive flavour punch.
Buying straight from the farmer is not just helping you feed your family. It will help keep local farms alive and thriving. Your produce will be local, fresh, REAL, not modified and simply what is in season. Appreciate it!
I encourage you to grab some friends, your kids, your neighbour or your pet and make the time to go to your next local market. You will be doing yourself and your family a favour by getting some fresh amazing local produce or products in your home!! By buying at your local market you will be casting your vote for a less industrialised world, one with less big chain supermarkets profiting and our local farmers and stall holders benefitting. Getting your fresh fruit and vegetables from these markets will give you such a great start to a new week. Now, I can’t wait to show you what I do with all this local fresh produce so stay tuned.
Until then,
Chrystalla xx
