01 June 2008

Markets tap in to Buy Kiwi Made

Farmers' Markets New Zealand is looking to go not global, but even more local following general consensus that it will accept nearly $100,000 worth of Buy Kiwi Made funding.

The biennial farmers' market conference was held in Blenheim at the weekend and attended by representatives from more than 40 markets around the country.

Chris Fortune, chairman of both the Marlborough and national Farmers' Markets, said the general consensus from those attending the conference was to accept conditional funding from Buy Kiwi Made, but that had to be confirmed with some absent members.

The funding of $95,900 had to be matched dollar for dollar, but Mr Fortune said a proposal had been put to members which should make raising the money fairly easy.

The organisation would need to do generic branding and encourage people to buy locally made.

Mr Fortune said that when the first farmers' markets started in New Zealand about five or six years ago, they thought there would be a maximum of 50 around the country.

The 42nd market had just opened. "We are almost there, and really the work is just beginning."

Mr Fortune said farmers' markets were not meant to be big in terms of numbers of stalls or stall size.

"They are designed for authenticity, so you can guarantee customers and consumers that they are going to buy locally made, edible produce."

Bernadine Prince, one of the founders of Washington DC's Freshfarm Market in the United States, and a keynote speaker at the conference, also attended the first conference in New Zealand two years ago.

"I am just stunned that the number of markets has doubled."

New Zealand was incredibly lucky and was able to feed people with food grown locally, she said.

Mrs Prince said food security was also very much on people's radars following September 11, and there were still questions about organic food coming from China.

She said there should be some sort of logo on the brick wall of Blenheim's A and P Park to advertise the market. It was a fantastic place to have a market, "but why isn't it year round?" she asked.

She said weather would not keep loyal customers away, as in Washington the rainiest and snowiest days still saw people attending markets.

Gill Smith, of Riverina Almond, was a stallholder at the market for the first time this season. She said they would definitely be back next season.

"It's been good from a social point of view, and getting our product out there," she said. "It's a brilliant concept and I think it's the way people should be shopping."

Meanwhile, Christchurch chef Johnny Schwass won the Golden Hoe for best presenter at the conference. Mr Fortune said Mr Schwass was a passionate and enthusiastic exponent of using local ingredients.

Farmers Market pictures