Lyttelton Farmers' Market

Although there is no shortage of small weekend markets in and around Christchurch, the one thing missing is a proper farmers’ market. A couple of weeks ago, however, I read an announcement in local newspaper The Christchurch Press – which does a fantastic food section every Thursday – about a farmers’ market starting up this Saturday, 3rd of September, at the Supervalue Carpark, which is just off Canterbury Street in Lyttelton. Lyttelton is a harbour community, just about half-an-hour’s drive from Christchurch, and was one of the original ports of entry for English settlers arriving in New Zealand in the 1850s.

The farmers’ market will take place from 10am till 1pm and will sell locally grown and locally made produce, direct to the public from the producers. Apparently the goods for sale must be either grown or produced by the seller – no middle men – and no craft stalls are allowed. A recent email I got from the Christchurch branch of Slow Food detailed a few of the producers, some of whom will be familiar names from these pages:

Athena Olives, Vic’s Bread, Ground Foods – quality spices and dips, Tuahiwi Organic Produce, an egg producer, a honey vendor, a flower grower, a small goods manufacturer, a garlic producer, a patisserie maker. Fresh fish will also be sold separately from the fishing wharf.

As you may have noticed, I was recently involved in Jen’s Eat Local Challenge during August, and, although the month has finished, it doesn’t mean that the challenge is truly over. As an avowed lover of markets, to the Boyfriend’s frequent exasperation (I tell him that he can’t complain too much – at least he gets good meals out of it!), this is the perfect place for me to stock up and meet some more small local producers. For anyone based in the Canterbury region, it should be well worth checking out.