Farmers’ market booming as buyers source local produce

FARMERS’ markets are booming in Tasmania on the back of recent food scares.

SUN TAS: Elsie Deakin, 9 with mother, Paulette Whitney who grows vegetables and unusual edible plants with her partner, Matthew Deakin under the business name, Provenance Growers. BYLINE: LUKE BOWDEN

FARMERS’ markets are booming in Tasmania on the back of recent food scares, and they could be adding millions to the state’s economy.

A midweek market run by Kingborough Council at Kingston has become the latest to offer local produce, adding to nine already listed around the state on the Australian Farmers’ Markets Association website.

They include the successful Farm Gate Market in Hobart, the Harvest Market in Launceston and a smattering of smaller operations.

“There’s a growing interest nationally and even worldwide,” the association’s Tasmanian representative Kim Hewitt said.

“But particularly in Tassie, people are becoming more interested in where their food’s coming from.

“More things like the berry scare just focus people’s attention on do we really know what we’re eating. Farmers’ markets ensure that line of communication.”

Most markets are set up as not-for-profit and follow strict rules that include a product being sold only by its grower or maker.

Ms Hewitt said they promoted sustainable farming and low food mileage and, contrary to popular belief, were not necessarily more expensive than the supermarket.

“There’s a perception that they can be expensive, and they cater to a particular wealthier class of people, a yuppie market,” she said.

“Our farmers markets are helping to dispel that image.”

Kingborough Council will run a seven-week trial of its market at Kingston Civic Centre on Wednesday evenings.