THE Healesville Organic Farmers Market has been catering for those seeking fresh, chemical-free produce for more than 10 years, with its 11th birthday due this month.
The market is held every Saturday, from 8am to 1pm, in the idyllic surrounds of Healesville’s Coronation Park.
The market was established by Permaculture Yarra Valley to provide fresh, organically grown produce to local residents.
The market also supports small-scale growers, allowing them to make a living from sustainable agriculture and to reduce the ‘food miles’ involved when food is transported from one area and sold in another.
Saturday mornings are a social event, where friends can catch up, and customers can get to know the producers of the food they eat.
About 16 enterprises from the Yarra Valley and district are regularly represented at the market, selling fresh fruit, vegetables, herbs, seeds and seedlings, garlic, flowers, sourdough bread from wood-fired ovens, honey, locally roasted coffee, various preserves and wooden toys made from recycled timber.
There is an abundance of fresh greens – silverbeet, kale, Asian greens, basil, parsley and salad vegies, as well as good supplies of tomatoes, carrots, beetroot, capsicums, potatoes, cucumbers, and zucchini, many of which are interesting old heirloom varieties with old-fashioned flavour.
Fruit includes strawberries and other berries, heritage varieties of apples, pears, plums and nashis.
Autumn will see a wide range of spectacular heirloom pumpkins available.
If you’re not yet a regular, it’s worth checking out this market.
There’s plenty of parking available.
Updates and grower profiles can be found on the market’s Facebook page.
