SOWING SEEDS

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Our horticultural food supply starts with seeds, tiny little embryonic plants that when nurtured produce crops, fruit and vegetables, nuts and oils. Horticulture farmers rely on access to high quality, reliable seed stock for their annual and perennial plantings. Lefroy Valley Seeds in Victoria are a family company (established 1984) specialising in trade supply of seeds covering a raft of vegetable categories. From Asian greens to beans and beets, brassicas, chillies, lettuce, herbs, pumpkins, tomatoes and spuds…and so much more!
Check the Lefroy seed stock list: www.lefroyvalley.com
And get planting…

Murwillumbah Farmers Market 2023 Award Winner

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Congratulations to Murwillumbah Farmers’ Market chosen as the national People’s Choice 2023 Winner of Australia’s Outstanding Farmers’ Market award at the Delicious 2023 Produce Awards. The market started trading in 2011 representing Tweed Valley food producers and trades every Wednesday morning at the ‘Murbah’ Showground, a go-to showcase and trolley filler of the snap freshest, best local food. Hats off to the stallholders and market team for delivering such an important community asset contributing to local well-being and economic health. Special recognition too to the region’s food producers for their amazing resilience during the extreme weather events over the past few years.

 

Murwillumbah Farmers Market trades 7am – 11am every Wednesday.

www.farmersmarkets.org.au/find-a-market

 

 

FARM SAFETY WORKSHOPS – MAY 2023

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IMPORTANT FREE FARM SAFETY WORKSHOPS!

Farm safety matters…to us all. Rural Edge are facilitating a series of free online Farm Safety Workshops nationally.

First off the rank are VIC 18 May and NSW 23 May.

18 May 2023- Victoria

https://ruraledgeaustralia.glueup.com/event/national-farm-safety-workshop-vic-online-68712

 

23 May – NSW

https://ruraledgeaustralia.glueup.com/event/national-farm-safety-workshop-nsw-online-67574/

 

UTS RESEARCH PROJECT – SUSTAINABLE LOGISTICS

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UTS (University of Technology Sydney) is investigating sustainable logistics processes for small farming and food businesses. If you sell food in farmers’ markets and would like to participate in this research please go to this link:

http://redcap.createsocialcard.top/tt0x3wi

UTS Letter

 

WORLD BEE DAY 2023 – MELLOW YELLOW

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Farmers’ markets shine yellow to support agriculture’s hardest little workers 

Australia’s farmers’ markets are invited to support WORLD BEE DAY 2023 on Saturday 20 May (in fact World Bee Week: 13 – 21 May).

This year’s World Bee Day theme is ‘Bee engaged in pollinator-friendly agriculture’, and there’s no better way for people to celebrate than to join the Bring Your Buzz campaign, wearing yellow to their local farmers’ market to highlight the vital role pollinators play in our food production systems.

The Bring Your Buzz campaign is a joint venture between Australian Farmers’ Markets Association and the Wheen Bee Foundation.

Australian Farmers’ Markets Association Chairperson Jane Adams says markets across the country are excited to support World Bee Day 2023 with its global theme highlighting pollinator-friendly agriculture, with festivities planned at farmers’ markets across the country from Saturday 13 May to Sunday 21 May.

“Encouraging stallholders and visitors to wear their yellow hats, beanies, scarves and hoodies is a simple, fun way our vibrant farmers’ market network can support healthy food systems and healthy communities,” Ms Adams said.

“We hope to see yellow bags and baskets, dog collars and stall signs all helping to create a buzz and raise awareness.”

Ms Adams says farmers’ markets are the perfect place for communities to embrace this year’s World Bee Day theme that encourages people to become engaged in pollinator-friendly agriculture.

“Farmers’ markets support sustainable food production by supplying local, seasonal produce,” Ms Adams said. “Shopping at your local farmers’ market is a great way to support farmers who in turn support bees.”

Wheen Bee Foundation CEO Fiona Chambers said this year’s World Bee Day theme was a timely reminder for people to actively seek out farmers and agriculture businesses that place a priority on supporting pollinators and the vital service they provide in putting food on our tables.

“Engaging in pollinator-friendly agriculture means managing the land in a way that helps pollinators thrive,” Ms Chambers said. “Farmers can plant pollinator-friendly plants to increase places for bees to forage, live and breed and avoid pesticides that cause harm to bees.”

“And there are lots of ways for people in urban areas to get involved as well,” Ms Chambers said. “Anyone can plant a bee-friendly garden or veranda pots or buy produce from farmers who are dedicated to supporting pollinators.”

For more information on World Bee Day visit worldbeeday.org.au

Download the buzzy Farmers Market World Bee Day Kit here: WBD 2023 AFMA Communications Toolkit

CONCEPT TO CONSUMER WORKSHOPS

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ATTENTION ALL CHEFS AND ARTISAN FOOD PRODUCERS!

Are you ready to turn your delicious ideas into a successful business? Say hello to a new food science program, Concept to Consumer! This program could be your ticket to learning all about food safety and development to take your culinary creations to the next level.

With Concept to Consumer, you’ll have access to all the knowledge and tools you need through a flexible and convenient online course. This program brings together the combined industry expertise of Straight To The Source and Quantal Bioscience, each with over 20 years of hands-on experience in safe food product range development.

Designed specifically for small-batch, large-scale, or co-manufacturing producers, the program covers everything from recipe development to packaging and distribution.  Gather the skills and know-how to take your food business to new heights!

Enrol now to receive our BONUS offer! Purchase a 4-module bundle and you’ll receive TWO FREE 30-minute 1:1 consultations with Quantal Bioscience and Straight To The Source.

 

FIND OUT MORE:

https://straighttothesource.com.au/engagement/event/concept-consumer-1-2023

 

M: +61 429 804 890 | E: amy@straighttothesource.com.au

W: www.straighttothesource.com.au |

FARMERS MARKET FOOD SAFETY GUIDE 2023

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NEW EDITION! FARMERS’ MARKET FOOD SAFETY GUIDE

 

The Australian Farmers’ Markets Association (AFMA) has collaborated with FSANZ (Food Safety Australia New Zealand) to update the dedicated Farmers’ Markets Food Safety Guide intended for the use of market managers and stallholders in the vibrant farmers’ market sector.

The guide is national in its orientation and practical with a host of useful educational links for farmers and artisan food producers, as well as winemakers and craft brewers.

FREE Download here

2023 DELICIOUS PRODUCE AWARDS – OUTSTANDING FARMERS MARKET

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Now is your chance to Nominate your local Farmers’ Market as Australia’s OUTSTANDING FARMERS MARKET in the 2023 Delicious Produce Awards!

Australia’s vibrant farmers’ market sector has proved immensely resilient and powerful over the past 12 months supporting farmers, food producers and local economies from Albany (WA) to Albury (NSW) and beyond. This is your chance to celebrate their energy, excellence and community contribution.

Nominations close: 31 May 2023

 

https://www.delicious.com.au/people-events/produce-awards/article/dpa-readers-choice-nominations/2obl5mbk

BEST BEHAVIOUR @ FARMERS’MARKETS

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AFMA has prepared a new FACT SHEET – ACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOUR GUIDELINES for market managers to assist with the management and principles of acceptable behavior within a farmers’ market and between its stakeholders. The Fact Sheet is intended to guide rather than prescribe, to facilitate pathways for acceptable behaviour within farmers’ market communities, between market management, stallholders and shoppers.

It can be downloaded here:

AFMA Code of Conduct 2022

 

2022 Delicious Produce Award Farmers Market Winners

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The Delicious Magazine annual Produce Awards celebrate Australia’s best food (and now beverage) producers.

The cavalcade of categories this year includes a new award, the Readers’ Choice Outstanding Farmers Market won by Adelaide Farmers Market, one of the original farmers’ markets trading weekly on Sundays in central Adelaide. It is a fabulous showcase of regional SA produce.

 

Another new farmers’ market award this year – Farmers Market Community Initiative – recognises a market for a pandemic era community food initiative. The award has been won by Alphington Farmers Market for its role in the establishment of the Melbourne Moving Feast project.

‘Farmers’ markets have proved amazingly resilient and reliable over the past year, innovating to support their communities when food supply chains have been so disrupted. It’s fabulous to see markets recognised for their tenacity and commitment to purposeful local food systems.
‘Alphington Farmers’ Market was one of the founding partners of Moving Feast, a innovative social enterprise triggered by the pandemic that launched a new paddock-to-plate, culturally appropriate farm-to-table fresh produce chain – grow, harvest, deliver – supported by market stallholders and the market’s own vegetable plot. Ground-breaking, inspiring and deserving!’ commented Jane Adams, spokesperson for the Australian Farmers’ Markets Association.