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Canberra Today 22°/24° | Friday, March 29, 2024 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

Southside Farmers Markets turning 10!

southside markets

ON Sunday 23rd October 2016 the Southside Farmers Market will be hosting a birthday party to celebrate 10 years of providing fresh produce to our customers.

Originally opened for trade in October 2006 by Canberra farmer Patrick Pentony, the market started with around 12 growers and producers. Since then the market has become a regular shopping and meeting place for around 3,000 customers every Sunday morning, and around 55 stallholders provide fresh fruit and vegetables, meat, fish, eggs, dairy, baked goods, honey and much more. Many of the original stallholders are still at the market today.

The market has also recently moved from the Woden CIT campus, to its new home at Canberra College, and this is also an opportunity to acknowledge everyone involved – the relocation was the result of successful collaboration between the ACT Government, Canberra College and the market stallholders and customers.

The birthday celebrations on 23rd October will include entertainment such as face painting and balloon animals, a petting zoo provided by regular charity Lucky Stars Animal Sanctuary, along with the usual array of fresh produce from stallholders. The official ceremony will commence at 9.30am with the cutting of the birthday cake by George Palavestra, Canberra College Principal. Local charity OzHarvest has had a long running relationship with the market with stallholders donating produce for over 8 years. The Southside Farmers Market will invite customers to buy an extra item of food while shopping to donate to OzHarvest to feed those vulnerable in the Canberra community.

Michelle Van Wijk says she is proud to have worked with growers and customers to create a village market that has become an integral part of the community providing fresh food and produce as well as supporting local and regional farmers by providing them consistent business.

“The market is so much more than a place of business for a lot of our farmers” says Michelle,

“The weekly market is also a chance to be social and talk directly with their peers and customers. There are a lot of long-term friendships that have developed in those 10 years.

“With the successful relocation of the markets to Canberra College in July this year the market is set up to continue to be part of the local community for another 10 years.

About Southside Farmers Markets:

  • The Southside Farmers Markets is turning 10 with a birthday ceremony being held on Sunday 23rd October 2016 with the official ceremony starting at 9.30am.
  • The Southside Farmers Markets originally commenced trading in October 2006 at CIT Woden.
  • The Market operates every Sunday from 8 to 11.30am with easy parking at the College, behind the Smith Family on Launceston Street or the adjacent carpark with entry from Irving Street and a footbridge for entry to the market.
  • The Southside Farmers Market is a village market that provides all the fresh food that you need for your weekly shop.  The market has a great range of fresh, seasonal produce from around 55 stallholders each week – including fruit, vegetables, eggs, meat, fish, honey, bread, cheese and dairy, gourmet treats and much more.

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Ian Meikle, editor

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