Earlier this year i posted a story about the Community Farmers' Markets in Melbourne, a fabulous resource for inner city Melbournians who like to know where their food is grown. These markets are on every saturday (tomorrow at Abbotsford Convent) and the schedule is in the picture above.
Now this site - the Guide to Victorian Markets, casts a wider net and includes regional farmers' markets in Victoria. Of course not all of these are explicitly organic. And herein lies the next big issue on the organic agenda. Local vs organic. The two do not always go hand in hand, so if one is faced with the option, is it better to buy the organic carrots shipped from Queensland or the local carrots which are grown conventionally? Hmmm. i know which one i'd choose.
In Victoria we are blessed with one of the best networks of farmers' markets in the country. And in the past 12 months i have watched the number of organic growers . . . grow. So many more stalls with organic and biodynamic produce. It's a veritable feast. And i am talking fresh fruit and vegetables, including some heirloom and little known varieties. One of my favourites has to be the "Grandpa's Tomato". This is a local variety grown in the family for three generations. Not listed in a catalogue anywhere, it has quite a unique flavour and texture. Somewhere between a beefsteak and a roma in shape and texture.
And if you want to know when and where the farmers' markets are, this is the most comprehensive listing i have found online. It includes inner city and regional farmers markets. You'll also find more detail about the inner city markets on this site. And this is the home of the regional farmers markets for Victoria.
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