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| 4 OCT 06 | |
Farmers’ Market group to host workshop
New Zealand Farmers’ Market executive member and reputable chef Chris Fortune will be a keynote speaker at the next local meeting and “Getting Started” workshop to establish a regular Southland Farmers’ Market.
Initially mooted at a New Zealand Trade and Enterprise seminar, that was held in Invercargill last November to explore the potential for farmers’ markets in the south, a local steering committee has been exploring the opportunities and potential for a regular event to be held in the city.
It is intended to run a weekly Sunday food market where local growers, farmers and artisan food producers sell their ware directly to consumers while promoting authentic, fresh Southland products and ingredients.
Steering committee member and local paeony grower Liz Terpstra said the next meeting and workshop would be held at the selected market venue at Southland Boys’ High School. The school had been chosen because of its clean, vibrant site, central location and its ability to provide all weather facilities.
Initial meeting attendees had agreed that the market would be owned by a membership based, non-profit Incorporated Society so that any stallholder’s fees and society revenues could be used for the management, promotion and maintenance of the market.
“Each stallholder holding membership to the society will enjoy the support and ownership of the market, its issues and direction,” Mrs Terpstra said.
An independent market manager would be contracted to assist both the stallholders and public with day-to-day running of the market and site and stallholders would be assisted with the provision of regulations such as food safety and labelling.
Mrs Terpstra said the next meeting and “Getting Started” workshop would be held in the Southland Boys’ High School staffroom on Wednesday 11 October from 5pm to 8pm and interested growers and producers were invited to attend.
It was an added bonus to have New Zealand Farmers’ Market Incorporated executive member and renowned chef Chris Fortune speaking at the next meeting.
Mr Fortune had traveled the world, working in award winning restaurants in Australia’s Barossa Valley and Marlborough and with top Kiwi chef Peter Gordon in his famous Sugar Club in London.
“Mr Fortune believes fervently in using local product and that food and cooking can and should be a healthy and enjoyable lifestyle.
“While others around him use imported luxury items like prawns and caviar, Chris uses fresh products and ingredients from his own beloved Marlborough,” she said.
The steering committee hopes to have a Southland Farmers market running by mid-November.
For further information:
Liz Terpstra, Crops for Southland, Southern Farmers Market Steering Committee Spokesperson
Ph 03 230 4144; email: liznick@xtra.co.nz
Craig Howard, Crops for Southland
Mobile 021 221 6245
