A taste of the region in Thorndon

Have you ever wondered where the broccoli you were eating was grown, or who caught that fish you’re preparing? Or have you simply thought it would be great to support local producers? Well, the Hill Street Farmers’ Market is giving Wellingtonians a chance to buy local.

On the 6th of February the Thorndon Farmers' Market Trust is opening Wellington’s only ‘authentic’ farmers' market. The market, which will be held on Saturdays from 9am-1pm, will be located in Hill Street, Thorndon, next to the Wellington Cathedral and will help connect locals to passionate regional foodmakers and exquisite fresh local food.

The Hill Street Farmers’ Market is about celebrating the best of our region and allowing producers an opportunity to present their products directly to consumers. It also provides a forum for educating the community about supporting and enjoying locally grown and produced food. Passionate restaurateur and well known foodie Al Brown is a big supporter of local food, and will be present at the market on 27th of February to sign copies of his new book ‘Go Fish’ and to announce the winners of the children’s colouring competition. Copies of the colouring competition can be downloaded from the Market’s website www.hillstfarmersmarket.org.nz.

With 22 stall holders already confirmed for Opening Day, the Hill Street Farmers’ Market will include in-season fruit and vegetable growers and producers from Wellington, the Kapiti Coast, Horowhenua and the Wairarapa, fresh fish from the Wairarapa, boutique meat producers selling their own produce and an array of other treats and necessities.

In addition to running the Hill Street Farmers’ Market, the Thorndon Farmers’ Market Trust supports and is part of local community initiatives which share the goals of the Trust. An important goal of the Trust is education about sustainable, locally grown food. The Trust is trialling an ‘adopt a producer campaign’ with local primary schools to educate children that ‘lettuces don’t grow on supermarket shelves’. Producers who supply the market will be adopted by different classrooms and talk to the children about food production and the cycle of ‘plant, grow, harvest, sell and eat’. Children will have a chance to grow their own vegetable patch or fillet a fish under the instruction of some of the region’s most successful producers. They will also visit their “adopted” producers at home on the farm or in the kitchen and at the Hill Street Farmers’ Market.

From 6 February 2010, Hill Street Farmers’ Market will run year round on Saturday’s from 9am-1pm. Located in Hill Street, Thorndon, there will be fabulous seasonal food on offer every week as well as regular events, competitions and entertainment. . For more information or to sign up to the regular e-newsletter head to www.hillstfarmersmarket.org.nz.

ENDS

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