Byron and Bangalow Farmers Markets are two of the longest-running farmers’ markets in Australia, and while much has changed since the first market was held in Butler Street Reserve more than 22 years ago, one important factor has remained the cornerstone of the market’s ethos – its authenticity.
Market manager Tom Carey says the markets were started by half a dozen passionate local farmers who wanted to be able to sell their produce directly to the public and support the region’s small-scale farming industry.
‘Those first farmers fought really hard to get the markets going and, in doing so, they put regulations in place to safeguard the market’s authenticity and set the groundwork for the market to grow over the years,’ Tom says.
‘They set the market up as a not-for-profit organisation and, as the market grew, formed a committee made up of farmers to run it. They wanted to protect the market’s integrity into the future so they established a constitution that would govern how the market was run.
‘At the core of that constitution, then and now, is to offer our community genuinely locally-grown produce. This means that our farmers can only bring produce they grow themselves – so no reselling of produce is permitted at our markets, and this is important as it is what sets us apart from supermarkets.’
Tom says that not all farmers’ markets around the country have such strict guidelines about provenance, but Byron and Bangalow Farmers Markets have always been unwavering on that point.
‘Every member that joins the market is audited when they apply and agrees to trade by these terms,’ he says. ‘This includes an on-farm visit by an auditor and ongoing audits every couple of years. This provides our customers (and fellow market members) assurance that the fresh produce they are buying at our markets is actually grown by the stall selling it.’
Tom says this also means that the market may not have all produce available year-round and that it emphasises the importance of eating by the seasons.
‘Luckily, in this area we can grow a wide range of produce, but not everything is in season all year. So, by shopping at our farmers’ markets you get to appreciate what’s in season and eat locally-grown food when it is at its best and supposed to be eaten – as nature intended.’
Byron Farmers Market is held every Thursday morning from 7am to 11am at Butler Street Reserve, and Bangalow Farmers Market is held every Saturday morning from 7am to 11am in Piccabeen Park.
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