Farmers’ market turns one

BENDIGO Community Farmers’ Market celebrated one year of feeding the community last week at the Good Loaf.

The market started in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, as a way to support local farmers and produce.

Manager of the market Chris Hain said it has grown significantly in 12 months.

“We started of very small with very humble beginnings with just two stalls,” he said.

“It’s grown now to 24 store holders, all of them small local farming or food business and it’s been our pleasure to support them through what was a pretty difficult year, and they’ve had the pleasure of feeding the community for that time.”

“Fortunately, through the work of the Victorian Farmers’ Market Association authentic and credited farmers markets were allowed to trade during lockdown, classified as an essential retail marketplace.”

Mr Hain said the market has the perfect range of fresh produce, with veggies, fruit, protein, seafood, flowers, pasta, honey and preserves all available every week.

“We now have a cycle of store holders that come once or a month or fortnightly so we’re actually supporting about 50 different food businesses,” he said.

“If you’re thinking of a basket of goods to feed your family every week you can do all of that here.

“Fill your fridge, fill your fruit bowl and fill your pantry every week.”

The community market proudly supports local farmers, and Mr Hain said it’s important that farmers get a fair go.

“In order to have a resilient local food system you need to be dealing directly with farmers, that way they get a fair retail price that allows them to sustain a living,” he said.

“It’s a really powerful connection when you’re handing over money to the person who’s invested their time and effort into picking those potatoes or raising that cattle or picking the apples.”

BCFM is calling out farmers that may be interested in setting up a stall.

“We’re here every week if you haven’t discovered us yet make the time come along, we’d love to show you around we know you’ll enjoy the experience, and we know you’ll eat better.”