This year marks the 15th anniversary of the iconic Tauranga Farmers & Producers Market.
Local growers and artisan food producers who pride themselves on selling wholesome, home-grown food direct to the public will be celebrating the milestone with a special birthday market today at Tauranga Primary School.
The celebrations include a birthday cake, entertainment, a treasure hunt for the children, and stallholders will gather for a special luncheon cooking up their own produce.
Trixie Allen, market manager since 2008 and previously a stallholder from 2005, said it started in 2003 at the Historic Village with a handful of stallholders after a Small Farmers Association meeting.
It was relocated to the Tauranga Primary School grounds in 2005 after a big storm flooded the village, and the market had gone from strength to strength since, she said.
In 2005 there were 15 to 20 stallholders. Today that number has grown to 55, but numbers peaked in the summer to 65, Allen said.
The Tauranga Farmers & Producers Market Incorporated Society had a membership of 80, and on an average Saturday morning 2300 shoppers came through the gates, she said.
"Our market is a true farmers market with no third-party on-selling, and those running the stalls are either the producer, a family member or an employee, who knows the background of what they're selling, which is exactly why customers shop here."
Foundation members who have been there from the start include Flavour Queen Mushrooms' stallholder Geoff Oliver who previously held the society's chairman's role.
Oliver said the success of the market which was based on the French model could not be attributed to just one person.
"It's due to lots of hard work and passionately dedicated stallholders as well as the market is well supported by the local community which is tremendous.
"The market has become like a one-stop co-operative with the school's tennis court transformed into a mini shopping centre every Saturday," he said.
Chairwoman Lyn Paul agreed. She said the success of the market was also down to the stallholders upholding the values and aims the market stood for.
"It's an incredible sight when you see all the shoppers pouring through the gates every Saturday. It's such a great atmosphere and social hub for the community.
"Our shoppers are so loyal, and many have been coming ever since the market started.
"They just love being able to talk to the producers and growers of the food they're buying, and that's a big part of the key to Tauranga Farmers Market's success," Paul said.
Over the years the market had supported many charities, including Waipuna Hospice, Red Cross and the Coastguard, Paul said.
Tauranga Farmers Market is affiliated to New Zealand Farmers Market Inc.
At the beginning
Te Puna orchardists Neville and Selwyn Norman are foundation members of the Tauranga Farmers & Produce Market, and they are there every Saturday "rain, hail or shine".
"We used to sell our produce to Turners Auction house, but because of increasing costs, we decided to cut out the middleman and started selling our citrus fruit at three or four flea markets.
"But in 2003 we decided to join the Tauranga Farmers Market, " 72-year-old Neville said.
"The number of people coming to the market has increased no end since those early days at the Historic Village, and so has the number and variety of stallholders," he said.
"It's a very friendly market with lots of regular customers who we have gotten to know quite well over the years, and it's become a very social event for everyone involved.
"It's always an enjoyable experience we look forward to every Saturday, and rain, hail or shine we'll be there, and we know so will our customers regardless of the weather."