The Farmers’ Market New Zealand executive invite you to attend our bi-annual conference. This year it will be held at the St Andrews Centre, The Terrace in central Wellington on Mon 14th and Tues 1th July. It's a great opportunity to network with fellow market vendors, managers & committee members, learn from experts and hear the latest from NZ and overseas We are holding the conference in mid-winter, as it's a little quieter at farmers' markets at that time, so easier for folks to get away, catch up with farmers' market friends and enjoy a couple of days or more, in our capitol city.
Many delegates travel down to conference on the Sunday afternoon before the Monday start and the Committee will host an informal evening with drinks, to meet, chat and network from 6pm.
Small grower/market garden advocacy
The supermarket duopoly has centralised our food system to support its own interests to the extent it favours larger growers only. This policy has drastically impacted on smaller growers and market gardens and resulting in the number of vegetable growers plummeting from over 24,000 in the 1980s to around 900 remaining today.
With climate change causing more frequent adverse weather events it has resulted in sudden losses of supply from major growers and disrupted transport links. Many regions are so reliant on supplies outside their region they are no longer able to feed themselves and are becoming increasingly food vulnerable.
HortNZ’s work and advocacy is dictated by 20 product groups that are dominated by larger growers and smaller growers and market gardens do not see their particular needs being satisfactorily addressed.
Farmer’s Markets New Zealand has been advocating for sustainable local food systems for 20 years and celebrate the quality and seasonal produce that our small growers provide and our markets depend on. In our initial discussions with growers we see that there would be value in a grower led advocacy organisation operating within our organisation. This would support all market gardens, not only those that who operate stalls at our markets.
We believe that introducing another supermarket to compete with the duopoly will only compound the issues currently being experienced and have been identified in the Public Health Advisory Committee Report, Rebalancing our food system. https://www.health.govt.nz/system/files/2024-09/rebalancing-our-food-system-sep24.pdf
The most logical competitors to the duopoly would be thriving local food systems that are able to deliver the quality, variety and value that only local growers can provide. To achieve this in each region a national advocacy group would be more able to address current regulatory barriers, provide economies of scale for purchasing common commodities in bulk and provide useful support for beginning enterprises (to grow the growers).
At our national conference this year (14/15 July) we are providing an opportunity for attending growers to begin the work of establishing the foundations of an organisation that will best meet their needs.
The conference dinner will be held on the Monday evening.
Conference Costs are $325 for full registration or $175 for one day. To register for the conference, click on the tab below.
Many delegates travel down to conference on the Sunday afternoon before the Monday start and the Committee will host an informal evening with drinks, to meet, chat and network from 6pm.
Small grower/market garden advocacy
The supermarket duopoly has centralised our food system to support its own interests to the extent it favours larger growers only. This policy has drastically impacted on smaller growers and market gardens and resulting in the number of vegetable growers plummeting from over 24,000 in the 1980s to around 900 remaining today.
With climate change causing more frequent adverse weather events it has resulted in sudden losses of supply from major growers and disrupted transport links. Many regions are so reliant on supplies outside their region they are no longer able to feed themselves and are becoming increasingly food vulnerable.
HortNZ’s work and advocacy is dictated by 20 product groups that are dominated by larger growers and smaller growers and market gardens do not see their particular needs being satisfactorily addressed.
Farmer’s Markets New Zealand has been advocating for sustainable local food systems for 20 years and celebrate the quality and seasonal produce that our small growers provide and our markets depend on. In our initial discussions with growers we see that there would be value in a grower led advocacy organisation operating within our organisation. This would support all market gardens, not only those that who operate stalls at our markets.
We believe that introducing another supermarket to compete with the duopoly will only compound the issues currently being experienced and have been identified in the Public Health Advisory Committee Report, Rebalancing our food system. https://www.health.govt.nz/system/files/2024-09/rebalancing-our-food-system-sep24.pdf
The most logical competitors to the duopoly would be thriving local food systems that are able to deliver the quality, variety and value that only local growers can provide. To achieve this in each region a national advocacy group would be more able to address current regulatory barriers, provide economies of scale for purchasing common commodities in bulk and provide useful support for beginning enterprises (to grow the growers).
At our national conference this year (14/15 July) we are providing an opportunity for attending growers to begin the work of establishing the foundations of an organisation that will best meet their needs.
The conference dinner will be held on the Monday evening.
Conference Costs are $325 for full registration or $175 for one day. To register for the conference, click on the tab below.