Take a stroll round a New Zealand farmers market
Our first Sunny Saturday in months, so I'm off to the Farmers Market. It was 7.30 am and the good people of our city are lining up, blinking in the bright morning sunlight. It has been well over 6 weeks since we saw the sun on the week-end so everyone is out and about.
The Farmers market I go to is held in the grounds of a local school. It opens at 7.45 am, allowing time for the stall holders to set up and the locals to line up at the different entry points, and have a chat. Then they're off !!! Stand back or you could get trampled!!! (I kid you not)
The thing is, Kiwi's are market mad, we have them for everything cos we all love a get together and a bargain. We have them at halls, schools, main streets, anywhere you can set up, there's a market. There's farmers markets, flea markets, boot sale markets, travelling gypsy markets, and on and on..we love them!! As far as this particular farmer's market goes, its got fantastic quality goods but can be a little pricey. If you are ever in New Zealand, go to the local market. I highly recommend the Dunedin farmers market and the Nelson market, they are awesome! (great food and coffee too) Anyway back to this one.
I just have a wander (Reccy) around first and decide if there's anything I want (not necessarily need!!) then I go back and do a double check. Here are a few of the stalls just so you can have a nosy too. (I was a bit self conscious taking these..I didn't want to be too intrusive, even though I wanted to get right in there to take my shots)
Vegan's and Vegetarians avert your eyes!
First up, a local farmers Beef and Lamb for sale
Then Kiwifruit...yes we call it Kiwifruit not Kiwi. It's the end of the season and there's Gold and Green galore YUM. Did you know you can use a few slices of Kiwifruit to tenderize your meat. Just lay some slices on what you want tenderized then wait approx 15-20 min and cook. Don't leave on any longer than 30 min, I did this and ended up with meat the texture of baby food!!! It acts quickly.
All locally grown
On we go.......
Free range eggs are always popular
And this is right next door
We also have a lot of flower growers in our area
and Orchids are just coming into season
Avocado season is just coming to an end...we have a lot of orchards in our rural communities
YUM fresh apple juice
Lots of hot food stalls as well
I motored past this stall...way to tempting
Of course..there is ALWAYS good live music and coffee !!!!!
then there's...
So what did I end up with?
Some fresh Organic pork belly, a Basil plant, Comfrey manure, two small Salami's, some native Kawakawa herbal tea and a Native plant I've been on the hunt for ...Horopito..it's otherwise known as NZ bush pepper. It's leaves when dried are like pepper/ chilies, its great for adding to your cooking. I tried a tiny bit of fresh leaf and yep...it's hot!!
Everything you have seen here is locally grown and or made in the Bay of Plenty. Hope you enjoyed. Have a blessed day
I live in the city and seeing your pic just make me yearn for country living with farmers market. The sights, sounds and smell just attacks the senses in a good way on all fronts.
Its a great experience for sure. You will have to take a road trip to the country!! So glad you stopped by and enjoyed. Thank you :)
We just came back from a holiday in New Zealand so I'm feeling a lot of nostalgia looking at these photos!! We didn't go to any markets as it was a skiing holiday but NZ is such a mecca for fresh, quality produce that I'm not surprised the markets are this good!
Everything looks amazing and I can imagine myself getting fat at the markets...$5 bacon and egg bun and a litre of worm wee (lol!!) please haha. Thanks for sharing, I'm from Australia so nice to see someone else on Steemit on this side of the world!
You've inspired me to post a market trip in Sydney so stay tuned :)
So stoked the post bought back good memories. Hope the Skiing was OK? Was it in the South Island? Sure is great to have Down-under on Steemit. Team Australia is huge here, if you haven't...join them. Will be staying tuned for your Market post..I imagine Sydney's will be HUGE.
Yes it was South Island, we went to The Remarkables, Coronet Peak, Cardrona and Treble Cone. Seriously cannot get over how beautiful New Zealand is! You're so lucky to live there :) Have you been skiing there before?
Ooh...I didn't know we had a Team Australia here, thanks for telling me!
Haha, I'll tag you when I do the market post here! We have a lot of small markets in suburbs so may not be as big as you think but we have lots of them for sure.
Beautiful place to shop as well as dangerous, I bet no one would want to get trampled early in the morning. ;)
Vegan's and Vegetarians avert your eyes!Good one!Also, I didn't know that Kiwi can do that to the meat.
Thank you for sharing these beautiful pictures and delicious food menu.
Thanks so much for taking the time to read. So glad you enjoyed. Sometimes it's a kind of slow motion stampede ...lots of Zimmer frames, there like hurdles! And yes! Kiwifruit has some amazing enzymes in it. This from Uncle Google: Some fruits, like kiwi, pineapple, and papaya, contain enzymes that break down the collagen in meat, making it much more tender. Redditor DaytonFlyers suggests peeling and mashing a kiwi fruit, then spreading the pulp over the surface of the meat. After about fifteen minutes, it will be significantly more tender.
Great post @madeinhisimage the white chicolate macadamia butter looks exyremely tempting. I should probably make the effort to get up a bit earluer on the weekend and venture down to the marjet. Its been a year or two (or more) since i made it down there. You did well not to come home completely loaded with prodice and food!! Im sure the stall people wouldnt mind a few close up photos if you mention the free advertising they would get!
Hey thanks @silvernova...YES YOU SHOULD !!! haha..just siting there with a coffee and maybe a Sausage Sizzle and listening to the music is great!!! Thanks so much for the comment. You have just done a great post BTW...just fantastic..gave you my vote :)
Fresh foods are always better. :)
Couldnt agree more. Thanks for the kind comment :)
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Wow thats awesome. I am stoked. Thank you
That looks like a great market. I'm tempted by the white choc maca butter too! Is that in Tauranga?
Yes it is !!! Every Saturday. Pop in if your up this way.
This Measure helps semi-subsistence farms to become commercially viable farms, encourages young people to take up farming.
Cutting out the middle man really helps these guys. Some of these stall holders are on the pension and this can make a huge difference to their lives. I agree it does encourage people to take up gardening, there is a wealth of help and information as stall holders are always happy to share their knowledge.
Great story, I am a big supporter to buy as much as possible local.