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Hi there
I was lucky enough to be finally flying to tropical climes for some annual leave only to be reminded immediately of back home with a nice shoutout to Ōtepoti Dunedin (& the Market) in the latest Kia Ora Magazine.
“It’s a UNESCO City of Literature and a university town with some of our finest Victorian and Edwardian buildings. Increasingly, it’s a foodie destination, too, with a slew of terrific restaurants, cafes and bars and one of the best farmers’ markets going. And while the weather may get bracing at times, Dunedin’s easy access to wild places and unique habitats makes it a wilderness lover’s dream.
MARKET DRIVEN: The ornate Flemish Renaissance-style Dunedin Railway Station is a drawcard in its own right. But time your visit for Saturday morning and you’ll find the Otago Farmers’ Market occupying the station’s northern carpark. Established in 2003, it’s a food focused farmers’ market, with vendors from all around Otago. Think Central Otago stone fruit, Whitestone cheese, honey from the Maniatoto and whole fish caught locally, plus plenty of ready-to-eat options”.
I continued doing the Market social media, so I have been watching from afar (and the beach!) on what was going on back here. It was great to see the Market look & feel like the numbers of old last weekend & I know our vendors welcomed seeing your faces & the sales, long may that reign. Speaking of which, we have a long weekend for many this weekend with Monday 26th September a Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Holiday (what a spectacular funeral and send off – I was transfixed till 4am watching it). Hopefully we will get many out-of-town visitors & locals who might have the weekend off to come and enjoy the Market.
Will be lovely to have Esther from Company of Flowers back with her rustic bunches of spring flowers in the usual northern corner, with her Market neighbours Viv & Chris from Kakanui Produce also returning for the season this weekend with produce from their hot houses.
We bid goodbye to Sophie from Soul Chai as sadly for us (& her many chai fans), Auckland has claimed her with a great new job offer. This weekend will be her last. Short & sweet while it lasted. We wish her all the best up in the big city.
Coastal Kaps will be at the Market this weekend with their oyster mushroom range up on the platform. Bacon Buttie is away this weekend but there will be plenty of other ready to eat options dotted around the Market.
I had the pleasure this week of doing a site visit along with our OFMT trustee Rod Philip (the ex-Asparagus Man) to Brightside Gourmet Food out at Mosgiel to see Ben and his microgreens & native oyster mushrooms. It’s great to see where our food comes from and the hard work that goes into it from all our growers, farmers and producers. You will find his finest microgreens available up on the platform each week where Ben encourages his customers to bring your own containers to fill. He also sells them in containers made from recycled milk bottles that you can bring back each week to get filled. I always get the fine salad mix to add to my poached eggs & any of my meals for a quick, nutritious and lazy vege hit.
For those of you who maybe isolating or homebound we have a few vendors that can deliver to your door during the week, Brightside Microgreens, Gilberts Fine Foods, Ettrick Gardens, Waewae, Ronia & Pippi, Agreeable Nature Eggs, Blue Mountain Butchery, Tartan Sari, Dunford Grove, Evansdale Cheese, Oamaru Organics, Port Larder, Harbour Fish, Havoc Pork, Blueskin Bay Honey, Wild Dispensary, Judge Rock Wines, Hazelnut Estate, Matheson & Roberts, Bennies Honey, Whitestone Cheese, NZ Nuts, Breads & More, Dunedin Craft Distillery, Princes St Butchery & others. You can find their details in our ORDER NOW button on our website www.otagofarmersmarket.org.nz
Bring CASH as some of our vendors are cash only. Remember your keep cup / mug (if you forget, check with your beverage vendor if they have spares to borrow to save on a single use throw out cups – which are just not cool!), I will keep supplying them with cups where needed, it’s up to us all to make use of this. And remember your containers, produce bags.
Remember, that only all our authenticated, verified Otago Farmers Market vendors are all within our gates who have our tick of approval. Make sure you support them inside the Market carpark & platform & you will get a quality product.
And thanks to Bella & the board for keeping the wheels turning while I was away and thank you as always for attending if you were there.
Please respect everyone’s space & feel free to wear your mask.
Shop your way around Otago this weekend…. at the Market! See you there.
Ngā mihi
Michele
Market Manager
Header Image: Company of Flowers
Insert Image: Ben Haines from Brightside Gourmet Food with OFMT trustee Rod Philip (on the right).
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