Celebrating the bounty of the nation's farmers’ markets

Gisborne’s Farmers’ Market is a popular destination for many on Saturday mornings. File picture

Gisborne’s Farmers’ Market is not the only one in the country.

To prove so, Saturday marks the start of the 6th National Farmers’ Markets Week from March 9 to March 16, with 26 farmers’ markets all over New Zealand participating.

The Gisborne Farmers’ Market, opposite Gisborne District Council, is hosting a feijoa eating competition on Saturday week as well as a children’s colouring contest.

But competition forms for this must be picked up this Saturday, to be returned the following Saturday (March 16) for judging.

National Farmers’ Markets Week aims to invite Kiwis who are not regular marketgoers to experience the direct link between farmer and consumer and to talk to growers about their fresh and local produce.

The benefits of shopping at a farmers’ market are many.

They include access to in-season produce which is often cheaper, fresher, lasts longer, and tastes better; the availability of many kitchen staples like seasonal vegetables and fruit; meat, fish, eggs, dairy produce, and bread prices that can be cheaper than the supermarkets.

Farmers’ markets are the perfect local shopping destination providing the freshest, most local regional food to communities. They can be found across New Zealand in both rural and urban locations and every purchase supports a small business and celebrates local food.

• National Farmers’ Markets Week is championed by volunteer organisation Farmers’ Markets NZ and features many special events spread across various markets over the two weekends of March 9-17.

• The markets are backed by over 1000 small food businesses, with an estimated 50,000 customers supporting them every week of the year.