Hi there
Happy 20th birthday to us this weekend! Come by the Market office caravan to share some cake – Chef Amy is making a large zucchini (keeping it seasonal since 2003!) cake with lashings of cream cheese frosting.
It’s a wonderful milestone to hit 20 years & is a testament to having a great variety of fresh fruit & produce from our vendors over the decades and you the loyal customers who keep coming back for more! We plan on celebrating over the whole year.
Simon Donaldson from Rosedale Orchard was a fresh faced 22-year-old vendor at the Market in March of 2003 when we first opened, he now doesn’t know where the years went – but he does know he’ll be bringing heaps of corn on the cob this weekend!
There are lots of new things to try around the Market – I’m loving the kheer rice pudding at Silk Rd, take a container with you (it’s nice as pudding or breakfast as I can testify!). If you are a fan of rye bread like me, then Breads & More are making fresh loaves each week - as I know rye flour reserves have been hard to get hold of lately. And of course we have now hit play on Autumn – so we are seeing new produce coming in – Kakanui Produce (who have been with the Market since our first year) have eggplant / aubergine coming through and there are lots of new lines around the Market as the season changes, still lots of peaches & plums and stone fruit and you will find capsicums this week at Ettrick Gardens (a founding vendor from day one!). And while the supermarket shelves are looking at times a little bare lately, we are lucky to have the best value of fresh fruit & vegies probably anywhere at the moment as our growers are packing their trucks to the gunnels each & every Saturday with produce picked & packed straight to us.
A reminder if you have been thinking of going to our special 20th anniversary long lunch (details in letter below) then now is the time to get your tickets – let’s make it a long, long lunch!
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 (vege boxes), Waewae Permaculture (vege boxes), 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, Ginger Fox Foods Peanut Butter, Wild Dispensary, Judge Rock Wines, Hazelnut Estate, Matheson & Roberts, Bennies Honey, Whitestone Cheese, Waitaki Orchard, NZ Nuts, Breads & More, Dunedin Craft Distillery, Princes St Butchery & others. You can find their details in the ORDER NOW button on our website or in the vendor profiles.
Bring CASH as some of our vendors are cash only. And remember your containers, produce bags, berry punnets, plant pottles, jars, bottles, keep cup, etc look for the ReUse posters on vendors that accept packaging back. Remember to try to return the correct packaging to those that you brought off if you remember (e.g. supermarket branded strawberries punnets can’t be reused by some of our vendors).
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. We thank you for your loyal support!
Please respect everyone’s space & feel free to wear your mask.
Shop your way around Otago this weekend…. at the Market! See you for cake on Saturday!
Ngā mihi
Michele
Market Manager
Header Image: First Otago Farmers Market March 2003
Insert Image: First Otago Farmers Market March 2003
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This Week in the kitchen
We love a party here at the Otago Farmers Market, and this week we truly have something to celebrate with turning 20 years old! I think that deserves cake, and these hazelnut and raspberry cakes are perfect to share! We look forward to seeing you all on Saturday at the Market to celebrate with us. Isabella (Assistant Manager)
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Ettrick Gardens Market Specials
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Buy direct from the grower!!! Better quality at a better price!!
HAPPY 20TH BIRTHDAY OTAGO FARMERS MARKET
Well, who would have thought we would be driving to Dunedin nearly every Saturday morning for the next 20 years back in 2003 LOL!
20 years have gone by so fast, we have made a lot of amazing friends and had a lot of laughs. The Farmers Market has changed our business. We now grow a much wider range of vegetables and fruit. Thank you to our amazing staff in Ettrick and Dunedin over the 20 years who have made our journey enjoyable. Happy birthday to all involved.
Fresh blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries!
Beetroot: Round, Cylindra, Gold, and Candy - all spray free
Tomatoes - cherry, gourmet, table, all soil grown -spray free
Also, chillies & capsicums are IN SEASON now
Fennel and parsley spray free
Shallots, garlic, and onions
Agria & Heather potatoes, spray-free and delicious
Spray-free courgettes & zucchini
Red cabbage spray free
Cavolo Nero and kale spray free
Freshly picked - new seasons apples and pears
Also, greengages, and plums,
Walnuts spray-free: whole and shelled
Frozen blackcurrants are also available.
Also, raspberries, boysenberries, tayberries!
Most of our vegetables are spray-free! Our courier service to your door is available anytime. Or “click & collect” from us at the Otago Farmers Market or our Ettrick shop. Email j.hpreedyege@actrix.co.nz for our latest order form and we can add you to our weekly update.
Ettrick Gardens: On your right at the main gate, or rapid 5104, state highway 8, Ettrick. Central Otago. 03 446 6863 or 021 151 8203. Follow us on Instagram & Facebook.
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Who Ate All the Pies? Birthday Specials
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We’re celebrating the farmers market 20th Year and our the start of our 15th year with a super duper promo for this week only and only at the Farmers Market.
Treat your nearest and dearest with:
4 x Cornish Pasty’s OR 4 x Pork Pies OR a Combination there of …… for their lowest price ever only $12.50 (1 deal per flavour and ‘Not Hot - take away only’).
As it’s a new start try our newest family pies.
Creamy French Chicken
English Beef & Black beer
Combo $15 each of 2 for $28 😋
First come first served - limited supply see you there ! Steven & Team
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Hazelnut Estate - Birthday Special
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Hazelnut Estate has enjoyed being part of the Otago Farmers Market for the last 3 years. We love the interaction with all of our loyal customers and also meeting so many new people each week. To help the Otago Farmers Market celebrate 20 years in action we have a one-week-only special of our very popular Hazelnut Chocolate Spread - $9 - so make sure you get in early. It tastes great on its own or is especially good when teamed with strawberries and apricots! Roger and Janine
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Earnscleugh Orchard Co-Op
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Hi, we look forward to seeing you all at the market on Saturday.
We have FREE TASTING of all of our fruit. Try before you buy, we welcome you trying all of our fruit. 100% paper packaging (nothing in plastic). Remember everything is packed at the market so is super fresh.
Where are we???? Look for the BIG RED VAN up on the platform under the roof.
CHERRIES.... maybe.
CERTIFIED ORGANIC APPLES:
Sunrise Apple, Royal Gala Apple, Honey Crisp Apple (maybe)
SRAY FREE:
Hawera plum (similar to omega), and Fortune plums
BLUEBERRIES, only a few weeks to go stock up now.
STONEFRUIT:
Peaches Yellow flesh (so sweet), Peacherines (amazing), Apricots
* Mooreparks daughter (Cross), and Yellow Nectarines (super sweet)
Flat peaches (white & yellow flesh) and greengages (FINAL WEEK)
PLUMS:
Fortune plums, Black Diamond plums, Black Doris plums (last week), and Omega (maybe)
Plus: Red pears (FINAL WEEK), and Nashi Yellow
Plus we will have some Gold Queen Peaches in a few weeks.
JAM APRICOTS (half price) it's best to order....these sell fast.
Text 021 455341 by Friday lunchtime to order.
Feel free to mix SAME PRICED fruit to get a delicious fruit mix.
Remember if you can't get to the market until later, you can text your PREORDER and we will pack & hold for you (pick up by 12pm).
Thanks Rob, Sher and family.
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Port Larder - Birthday Specials
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Our Birthday special is 🥳
Tomato Passata
A tomato, garlic and onion sauce to add to pasta or pizza bases.
Cranberry, orange and Port chutney to add to white meat or cheese.
Fresh Harissa is available.
Add a small spoonful to casseroles, curry or any meals that need a chilli, spicy touch as well as the usual hot sauces, chutneys, and pestos.
Hope your are able to be outside enjoying these ongoing sunny days.
Port Larder
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Dunford Grove
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The Hazelnuts are about to drop. Picking them up is easiest with bare earth, but being spray free involves pruners, a rake, hand mower, mulcher, weed eater, kneeling pads and an hour or fifty for both of us! I’ll be on the platform this Saturday with nuts and more for you.
Did you know? Occasionally someone will say “you want how much?” when I tell them the price of our nuts, I just want to slap them, maybe I should invite them to be part of this fun task instead! Sandy
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Stonehurst Gourmet - Herb of the Week
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OREGANO (Origanum vulgare)
The Greeks are said to have named this plant oros ganos which translated to joy-of-the-mountain as in Greece this herb grows wild on the hillsides. Oregano is also called 'Wild Marjoram' and can be used as a substitute for sweet marjoram in recipes. Oregano is often used in conjunction with basil in many cheese, tomato, casseroles, bean, and egg dishes along with on the top of pizzas. Use the flowering tops as a tea to help with coughs, stomach and gall bladder disorders, nervous headaches and irritability, general exhaustion and menstrual pains - this tea can also be used as a sedative to help prevent travel sickness. Apply externally as an antiseptic poultice for swellings, rheumatism and stiff necks (contains the antiseptic thymol). It is said that chewing a leaf can help provide temporary relief of toothache. Infuse the leaves for a relaxing bath or add the fragrant dried leaves to potpourri mixes. The leaves & stalks can also be used as a brown dye. Dark green leaves topped with pink flowers in summer. This hardy perennial tolerates most locations except wet soils - ideally, it loves full sun, free-draining soils with plenty of moisture, making it ideal for containers. Kate
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Community Stall - Hospice Collectors
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We'll have volunteers on site from 8am -12.
Otago Community Street Appeal - Please donate and help them towards their $3million fundraising target.
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Celebrate 20 years of fabulous regional produce at the OTAGO FARMERS MARKET LONG LUNCH
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On Sunday 26 March 2023, join our single table under cover on New Zealand's longest rail platform and enjoy a specially created seasonal lunch showcasing the finest summer produce from Otago Farmers Market vendors.
Enjoy a three course lunch of shared platters and Otago lamb prepared by Precinct Food. A cash bar will serve libations from Otago Farmers Market vendors; No8 Distillery, Judge Rock Wines, Dunedin Craft Distillery and Catlins True Brew.
This is a wonderful opportunity to honour 20 years of Otago Farmers Market by taking a few leisurely hours to celebrate the best of life; friends and whanau and locally harvested, seasonal produce cooked to perfection!
Tickets are essential and can be purchased from TryBooking here. Booking is $135 per person + booking fees. This includes a welcome drink and a delicious, leisurely three course lunch. The booking system allows you to add dietary requirements and note who you may want to sit with.
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Shout the Farmers' Market Vendors a stall fee! - Give a Little Page
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As a supporter of farmers markets - are you still thinking of what you can do to help in some small way? Check out our FMNZ givealittle page here:
https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/shout-the-farmers-market-vendors-a-stall-fee
A portal for the farmers' market community to support those FMNZ growers and vendors badly impacted by the recent storms Nationwide. Farmers' markets play a vital role in the nations food system. Every week growers work really hard every day to produce the vegetables, fruit and other staple foods that they take to their local market to sell. Even before the storms of the last couple of weeks it has been a grotty year with late frosts, rain and lack of sunshine playing havoc with crops and that's a big income hit for these often small businesses.
Post Gabrielle many growers along the eastern part of the North Island are in desperate trouble. Many vendors from other farmers' markets as well as customers would like to help these struggling growers by paying their stall fees to help them attend their markets. Farmers Markets NZ is working closely with Managers of member markets in impacted areas and together, using the Managers local knowledge of the growers and other vendors at their market any funds donated will be passed on. We know that the challenges that some growers and producers face are massive, but we hope that having their stall fee paid for a week or two might put a smile on some faces and show support.
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VOTE FOR US!!!
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Are we still your most favourite farmers market this year?
Voting for the Coast Kiwis’ Favourite Farmers Market 2023 has begun and runs through until Friday 31 March. Go in the draw to win prizes!
The page for voting is here https://www.outstandingfoodproducer.co.nz/kiwis-favourite
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Kiwi Harvest ‘Pay it Forward Bin’
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The crate will be near the Market caravan at the main middle gate - look for a flag on top & if you feel like donating something extra from your shopping then Kiwi Harvest will collect each Saturday lunchtime & it gets distributed out to local charities for those in need this week.
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Keeping Well
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Everyone welcome but PLEASE STAY AWAY IF UNWELL (vendors & customers).
Please only handle food & produce that you are going to buy.
Please respect everyone’s space & feel free to wear your mask.
Please sneeze into your elbow.
Wishing you well!
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Feel Free to Share this Newsletter with Your Community.
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Communities helping Communities
Support LOCAL Small Businesses
No Dogs allowed in the Market apart from care dogs.
No Fliers / Pamphlets to be distributed at the Market please.
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