My Local Feast Farmers’ Market celebrates 1 year

As we near Christmas celebrations, the My Local Feast Farmers’ Market gets ready to blow out its first birthday candle. The brainchild of Josie Townsend, the weekly farmers’ market is designed to attract regular shoppers and tourists alike, looking to genuinely support local farmers by directly buying locally.

The numbers at the markets have been a bit of a rollercoaster as Toowoombians adjust to a weekly mid-week farmers’ market and the organisers contend with a statistically high number of wet and bad weather days hitting on Thursdays in the Toowoomba CBD.

Josie Townsend, founder said, ”Farmers’ markets and buying direct from farmers or local grocers or butchers who buy direct from farmers creates an opportunity to build strong foundations in local communities, especially rural and regional areas. They also help us build friendships, build community capacity and increase our health, ie they get us off our couches and walking in the fresh air.”

Notwithstanding the many barriers to a new business starting, the market has become a breeding ground for new ventures. Recently, the social enterprise Ben & Co worked with the organisers to launch their new baking business at the markets and this week they welcome the first ever sourdough baker who grinds his own flour from locally grown grains.

The birthday celebrations will include a Treasure Hunt for the kids with a farmers’ market gift at the end, face-painting, a birthday cake celebration (and maybe a bottle or two of celebration bubbly) and also our regular weekly draw for a Christmas Ham or regional produce box. Our birthday cake will be cut at 5pm.

The markets start from 3pm every Thursday and go until 7pm. There are fruit and vegetable producers, beef, lamb, pork, turkey, chicken, pasta, baked goods, olives, jams and kitchen garden suppliers.

“Some people think our market is solely an organic one. It’s not. We support all farmers, but we find our farmers understand that people want as few chemicals as possible sprayed on what they will consume. We also find that produce in season is a lot cheaper than other places.”

The treasure hunt for children will commence at 3.30pm and finish at 4.30pm this week.

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