A certified Victorian Sunday Farmers’ Market will begin this autumn, providing local farmers and producers with the opportunity to sell their products to consumers on a weekly basis.
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Produce for the Daylesford Sunday Farmers’ Market will be sourced from farmers and small businesses in Hepburn Shire and surrounding central highlands.
Executive chef of Daylesford catering company Spade to Blade, Gary Thomas, is curating the new market:
“I was approached by local farmers, some from whom I have sourced produce from for my catering business over the past 20 years. These farmers wanted a place to sell their freshly harvested produce so I came up with the idea of a farmers’ market,” he said.
Mr Thomas said people wanted to be informed about where their produce was sourced, while freshly farmed fruit, vegetables, grains, legumes and ethically raised meat and poultry was increasingly popular.
Mr Thomas will use the platform of the market to provide more opportunities for individual artisans in a local context.
“I want to protect a level playing field for farmers and small regional businesses. The market will support local agriculture, businesses, employment and the economy.”
The market will comprise of two areas, including 15 outdoor plots for market stalls as well as a dry, weather safe indoor area for art and craft stalls run by local artists. There will be ceramicists, silversmiths, cobblers, painters and even a wooden toy maker.
Stuart Smithwick, who runs the Sunday Railway Market, said he had serious safety and traffic concerns if the two markets were held concurrently on either side of Raglan Street.
Mr Smithwick made a submission to the application with his concerns, and says the concerns will need to be addressed by Vic Roads and Hepburn Shire Council.
Hepburn Shire Council acting chief executive officer, Grant Schuster, said: “VicRoads and Council engineers were asked to provide advice on any potential issues with the proposal and no concerns were raised by them.”