By Kath Gannaway
The Warburton Summer Produce Market has become a popular Friday night meeting place for locals and visitors.
The non-for-profit twilight market is all about growing and nutrition with bountiful supply of food for the body, mind and soul.
All it took was for a local grower to lament to the right person about the challenges of selling her produce locally over the summer months.
The challenge was taken up by local community member Kate Baker, and with the support of other keen locals, growers and Yarra Ranges Council, the seeds of what has become a successful venture for the town were sown.
“So many of us had said how much we would like to be able to buy local produce more easily and this idea for a market that combines gorgeous locally-grown and artisan produced foods, along with live ambient music, and other activities, was seen as a way of achieving that,” Kate said.
The plastic-bag-free market is held on the village green and along the rail trail near the COG Cafe each Friday evening from 4.30pm to sunset.
The first market was a sell-out and the number of sellers and diversity of goods has increased each week.
Among the great range of foods available are organic vegetables and fruit, free range eggs, honey, cheeses, coffee, breads, wine and cider, flowers, chocolate and sauces and preserves.
The catch-phrase ‘Eat like the locals’ invites visitors to not only enjoy the market, the music and the vibrant atmosphere, but to stay, or return, to enjoy all Warburton has to offer.
“It’s about experiencing the real Warburton,” Kate said.
Visit the market Facebook page, @warburtonsummerproducemarket for profiles and market news, or phone 0411 446 070.
