2022 Delicious Produce Award Farmers Market Winners

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.

PRODUCE SAFETY SURVEY

FARMERS’ MARKET MANAGER ALERT!
Australia’s farmers’ market managers are invited to assist in developing communications materials on food safety for small growers of berries and leafy vegetables...Initially all that is needed is to complete a short survey…
AFMA is liaising with The Growth Drivers to help facilitate the research for the Fresh Produce Safety Centre.
Market managers wishing to support this project are asked to click on this link:
Deadline for survey completion is 27 May.
Thanks for you support!

BRING YOUR BUZZ – WORLD BEE DAY 2022

AFMA is again partnering with the Wheen Bee Foundation for WORLD BEE DAY 2022
 
The campaign BRING YOUR BUZZ has been developed specifically to roll out  across Australia’s farmers’ markets in May.
Numerous markets ran fabulous market activations last year and markets are again being invited to get involved in this very important campaign to raise awareness of the vital role bees play in our food chain.
World Bee Day is Friday 20 May 2022
All farmers’ markets have a chance to participate between 14 – 22 May 2022 – more like a Bee Week really !
CREATE A BUZZ!
Wheen Bee Foundation and AFMA have collaborated to create a WORLD BEE DAY COMMUNICATIONS PACK.
 
This handy Toolkit contains links to myriad resources to help your market create a buzz !
  • Social Media Assets
  • FREE download posters + infographics
  • Newsletter banners
  • Sample Media Release
The Bring Your Buzz Communications Pack can be downloaded FREE here: WBD 2022 AFMA Communications pack
FREE EVENT LISTING ON WORLD BEE DAY AUSTRALIA SITE
 
Cross promote your World Bee Day Market activities via World Bee Day and Wheen Bee Foundation websites, and reach new customers.
2022 BEE THEME – YELLOW !
Ask your shoppers and stallholders to:
• Wear yellow – shoes, sweaters, hats, aprons, gumboots…
• Decorate stalls with yellow – foods, flowers, cloths
• Feature honey stalls and honey-based foods
• Organise bee talks – bee friendly gardens, backyard bees
• Honey tastings
• Dress up in a bee suit
• Yellow balloons at the market entry
We are inviting you to get buzzy about bees!
CAMPAIGN REGISTRATION
There is no formal registration process, but AFMA asks you to please send an email to advise if your market is participating and the date you intend to run World Bee Day activities.
 
Please use email Header: WE’RE SUPPORTING WORLD BEE DAY !
MEDIA COVERAGE
AFMA will be promoting the BRING YOUR BUZZ Campaign and  BYB market participants on the AFMA website and AFMA social media.
The Comms Pack includes a template media release ready for each market to insert their details. Please support this important educational campaign!
More Information: E: info@farmersmarkets.org.au

NEW AWARD FOR FARMERS’ MARKETS

Did your market pivot to meet community health and food supply needs over the past two years?

Did your market innovate new programs?

  • Home Delivery
  • Produce Boxes
  • Online Orders
  • Food Security projects

…all are eligible…

OUTSTANDING FARMERS’ MARKET COMMUNITY INITIATIVE

This new award recognises the integral role that farmers’ markets play in connecting local farmers and artisan food producers directly with customers, and the vital support local food systems provide for communities. It will be awarded to a farmers’ market that has created an outstanding community initiative in the past two years, which demonstrates innovation, agility and resilience, and has impacted its food producers and market community in a positive way.

Applications from farmers’ markets for the 2022 awards close at 11:59 pm (AEST) on Sunday, May 1, 2022. Click here for more details and to apply.

 

https://www.delicious.com.au/people-events/produce-awards/article/delicious-produce-awards-2022-everything-you-need-know/btlnrz5m

WAFMA NEWS – ANNUAL REPORT

NEW WA FARMERS’ MARKETS

 

The WAFMA Annual Chair’s Report highlights growth of the sector and two new farmers’ market starts – Mundaring Farmers’ Market and Peel Produce Market…

 

Read the lastest from the West here:

WAFMA AGM Chair Report 2022-1

 

FREE WORKSHOPS FOR RED MEAT PRODUCERS

ARE YOU A RED MEAT PRODUCER?
Seeking to explore value-adding, brand building or diversifying or commercialising your meat business? Wanting to widen your red meat product offer at farmers’ markets?
 
Read on about the FREE WORKSHOPS available in NSW, QLD and online:
 
Are you a red meat producer interested in value-adding? Or do you already have an idea and want the skills to bring it to life? Don’t fly solo, value+d is the program for you!
 
⁠Join a FREE introductory workshop to find out about value+d, a new program supporting red meat ventures and offering participants access to: ⁠
 
🏼 1:1 Business Coaching⁠
 
🏼 A network of mentors, customers & partners⁠
 
🏼 Tailored tools, resources & technical training⁠
 
🏼 A BIG community of like-minded people⁠
 
 
Click hereto find out more including workshop locations and dates.
 
value+d is a collaboration between:
 
• Meat & Livestock AustraliaFarmers2FoundersStraight To The Source
MORE DETAILS?
Contact Lucy Allon
Straight to the Source
M: 0419 299 862

BEE CERTIFICATION SCHEME

Australian apiarists are encouraged to check out the BQUAL B-TRACE accreditation scheme. This is the Australian honey industry owned QA and food handling program especially designed for small enterprise beekeepers selling direct to the public. It confirms honey has been produced to high industry standards and offers consumers a ‘warranty’ on their honey and bee product purchases. Honey producers selling at farmers’ markets are specially recommended to investigate this opportunity.

 

More information available https://www.btrace.com.au

DELICIOUS PRODUCE AWARDS 2022 – NOMINATE NOW YOUR OUTSTANDING MARKET!

Farmers’ markets have powered through the challenges of the past two years, providing reliable fabulous healthy fresh local food to more and more ever savvy shoppers.

So what better chance to celebrate the hardworking farmers and artisan food producers and your community’s farmers’ market than by NOMINATING it in the PEOPLE’S CHOICE Award for OUTSTANDING FARMERS’ MARKET.

NOMINATE YOUR PICK OF THE CROP HERE:

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

Nominations Close 28 February 2022

AUSTRALIAN ORGANICS SURVEY LAUNCHED

NATIONAL ORGANIC FOOD SURVEY LAUNCHED…
If you are an organic farmer or food producer, especially if you are selling your produce in a farmers’ market, Minister Littleproud’s Department of Agriculture would like to hear your views!
The Australian Organic Food Sector Survey is being managed by the Food & Wine team at the Department of Agriculture in conjunction with consultants PwC.
The Have Your Say! Survey is of particular interest to organic, bio-dynamic and sustainable farmers and artisan food producers, especially those selling their produce in farmers’ markets. So often the voices of the vital smaller farmers and passionate artisan producers are not heard. So now is your chance to SPEAK UP!
Survey closes 5pm 1 February 2022.
Click here to do survey:

FARMERS MARKETS SILVER LINING

Shopping al fresco at farmers’ markets has proved to be a vital link in the nation’s food chain during these challenging times… Eativity News has the story. https://eativitynews.com/farmers-markets-bring-silver-linings/