Talbot Farmers Market

Third Sunday every month

Tag Archives: central victoria

11 Mar

Farmers’ Market Set to Celebrate!

Farmers’ Market Set to Celebrate

The town of Talbot will burst into life once again on Sunday 15th of March as the hugely popular Talbot Farmers’ Market celebrates it’s 11th anniversary market.

For over a decade farmers, bakers, makers and growers have gathered on the third Sunday of every month to set up stall in the beautiful heritage precinct of Talbot.  From near and far visitors descend upon Talbot, friends and families stroll the streets together, shopping bags slung over their shoulders ready to be filled with fresh locally grown goodies and gourmet products direct from producers.

“The Talbot Farmers’ Market was founded over a decade ago with seed funding from Victoria’s Department of Regional Development, plus financial and in-kind contributions from local businesses and individuals.” explains Jayne Newgreen, Marketing Officer.  “This together with a barrow load of dedication and energy from a group of passionate locals brought the first market to life in March of 2004.”  “We are really excited to recognise their hard work and celebrate the ongoing success of the market.”

One of the founding group that brought the market to life is Tiffany Titshall.  A fine artist, designer and passionate foodie Tiffany’s contribution to the markets success ranged from early mornings setting up roadside signs to designing the markets beautiful artichoke logo, which has become synonymous with the Talbot Farmers’ Market.  “I visit Talbot Farmers’ Market every month,” says Tiffany.  “I never miss coffee and yum cha whilst picking up fresh veg and bread.  I love to take weekend guests to the market. The town charms them and the size and quality of the market surprises them”.

“I love the atmosphere of the market – the music, the people and the variety of stalls.” Tiffany goes on to say.  “As a designer I particularly appreciate the attention to detail, quality and style that new food producers present in their branding, and to see that flanked with straw, chooks and veg straight from the soil in the back of a truck is the best of everything to me”.

Reflecting on how the market has changed over the past 11 years Tiffany says  “The market has certainly evolved.  It has grown and spread along Talbot’s streets and the crowds have followed.  I am proud of the role I played when I see the market flourishing.  I am always looking forward to what’s on offer next month”.

The ongoing success and longevity of the Talbot Farmers’ Market can be attributed to many factors, including the passionate local volunteers who work tirelessly to make the market happen each month together with two part-time employees who co-ordinate and promote the market.  The market would not be possible without the customers who choose to come along and support local farmers and of course the passionate producers, who attend the market every month with their produce proudly presented on the market stall tables.

Long time stall holder Frank sells stone-fruit, tomatoes, grapes and cherries seasonally at the market and while he could sell all of his produce at the farm gate he still chooses to attend the Talbot Farmers’ Market when the fruit is in season.  “My customers wouldn’t let me get away with not attending the market” says Frank with a smile on his face, giving you the impression he would miss catching up with old friends and customers as much as they would miss buying his fruit.
“A day at the Talbot Farmers’ Market is not complete without picking up a raffle ticket for your chance to win the popular ‘Barrow Raffle’,” says Lee Holland, the markets Co-Ordinator.  The wheel barrow overflows each month with produce and products, kindly donated by the stall holders.  John Wright sells his rare breed Large Black pigs at the market and will this month donate a pig to the hugely popular Pig Raffle. Raffle tickets are just $2 each and are available from the information marquee in front of London House on Scandinavian Crescent.
To complete the vibrant village atmosphere live music is played in the streets on market day, this month local musician Kim Ritchie will entertain the crowds.   Although blind since birth, through her passion for singing and enjoyment in sharing her love of music with others Kim has become a very accomplished entertainer.

Come along to Talbot on Sunday 15th of March (9am -1pm) and share in the celebration of the milestone market day!

For further information please see our Facebook page www.facebook.com/talbotfarmersmarket

 

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20 Mar

Jams, Pigs & Cake in the Crescent

Jams, Pigs & Cake in the Crescent

This months Talbot Farmers’ Market offered a few more jams than usual, as thousands of people packed the historic streets of Talbot to celebrate the Markets’ 10th anniversary celebrations on Sunday.

The tiny town of Talbot came alive with the sounds of local musician Kim Ritchie singing in the street and sharing her humorous quick wit between songs and also a series of short ‘Meet the Farmer’ talks drawing a crowd.

A busker all the way from Melbourne played around the corner in Camp Street pleasing crowds with his guitar skill and stunning songs.  Many stopped to listen, quickly realising he was in fact Ross Hannaford, a band member of “Daddy Cool” fame.

Stall holders lined Scandinavian Crescent and spilled down Camp Street with many offering 10th anniversary specials.  Market goers with calico shopping bags over their shoulders strolled the streets enjoying offerings of food, wine and organic beer tasting while filling their bags with purchases of fresh produce and local gourmet delicacies.

Both the Barrow Raffle and Pig Raffle tickets were in demand with market goers vying for a chance to win one of the many prizes on offer, such as luxury overnight accommodation at Chesterfield House in Talbot, hampers of market stall product, gift vouchers for local eateries and of course the renowned ‘Barrow’ overflowing with Market goodies.  All prizes kindly donated by stallholders and local business go to show the great level of support the Talbot Farmers’ Market receives from its local community.

The Barrow Raffle was won by an ecstatic Melbourne resident Leanne Simmons, who enjoys staying in the local area.  “The market has such a wonderful atmosphere and it’s a great event to enjoy whilst visiting Central Victoria,” Mrs Simmons said.  Leanne visited the market with her daughter Prue Simmons, who owns a sustainable property White Stone Farm, in nearby Clunes.  The Talbot Market offers a fantastic opportunity for Prue to buy vegetables that they don’t grow at White Stone Farm. “I love coming to the market – it’s a social event, a chance to catch up with other local producers and buy veggies that we don’t grow,” Ms Simmons said. “One day we hope to be able to sell our goods at this thriving and vibrant market!”

Three little pigs were raffled in the Markets popular Pig Raffle with each winner being absolutely thrilled to have their ticket drawn from the bucket.  Wendy Aston of Ballarat was very excited to have won one of the pigs. “It was a really great and successful day, a real credit to the Talbot Farmers’ Market and winning a piglet just topped it off!” said Wendy of her win.  Wendy is going to have a friend join her on the new adventure of pig ownership, they will buy another pig as a companion and keep the two pigs on a farm just outside of Ballarat.  Here they will roam free range in a grassy paddock and be well looked after with a straw lined house, shelter trees and space to wallow in.  John Wright of Ragin’ Pigs will guide Wendy and the other winners through the steps of pig ownership and has offered to always be on call for support if required.  John cares greatly about his free range rare breed black pigs and is happy to see the pigs going to three new caring homes.

The Talbot Farmers’ Market information and raffle marquee in front of London House was adorned with balloons for the kids and a cake made by Bryce’s Bistrot to celebrate the milestone event.  The cake was cut by Tiffany Titshall, one of the team of dedicated locals who founded the Market a decade ago.  Following which an impromptu song of Happy Birthday was sung by Lindsay Hazelman with many in the street joining in.

The day concluded with many stallholders having sold out of fresh produce and smiles on the faces of market goers having experienced yet another enjoyable day at the Talbot Farmers’ Market.

10 Mar

MARKET MARKS 10TH ANNIVERSARY

Market Marks 10th Anniversary

The tiny town of Talbot will celebrate the 10th Anniversary of its popular Farmers’ Market on Sunday 16th March from 9am -1pm.

The Talbot Farmers’ Market began quietly in 2004 as one of the earliest farmers’ markets in regional Victoria and continues to be a growing success a decade on.  The market, set down the road in the beautiful historic precinct on Scandinavian Crescent in Talbot, connects local and regional farmers, growers and artisan food producers with market goers from far and wide.

From humble beginnings the vibrant market remains proudly community based.  Gillian Sweetland, one of the founders explains how ten years ago a band of passionate locals with “an incredible variety of talents, skill and commitment” pulled together to make the Market happen.  Their hope was to “stem the demise of a small town and create a legacy to underpin the livelihood of its old and new residents.  It’s obvious that the dedication was infectious and I am very proud of the community’s success.”  A success it is, today the market continues to draw over 2000 visitors to town on the third Sunday of every month.

The Talbot Farmers’ Market boasts an impressive display of over 80 stalls of regional produce including seasonal fruit and vegetables, organic produce, freshly baked bread, gourmet cheese and meats, local wines, organic oils, artisan and gourmet delicacies, livestock, plants and much more.

To mark the 10th anniversary milestone, the Talbot Farmers’ Market will host a series of short ‘Meet the Farmer’ talks, with presentations from an organic vegetable grower, bio-dynamic lentil farmer, an apple orchardist, an organic oil seed producer and a passionate vermiculturist poet.  The farmers will talk on a range of subjects from the challenges of farming to looking after the environment and more in depth topic of genetically modified foods.  These talks will provide an opportunity for market goers to better understand where the products they enjoy at the market come from and to really connect with stallholders, many of whom have been with the market since day one.

The Talbot Farmers’ Market is not complete without its popular “Barrow Raffle” and to celebrate the decade milestone there will be a total of 10 draws in this months raffle.  Prizes will include vouchers to dine at local eateries such as Bryce’s Bistro, Ripples Cafe and the Talbot Courthouse Hotel.  There will also be a chance to win bottles of wine from Kangaroo Hill Organics and Amherst Winery and hampers of product from Stoney Creek Oils and Pud for All Seasons.  Raffle ticket holders will also be in with the chance to win a stack of  “Talbot Farmers’ Market Money” to the value of $100 to be spent at the market and luxury overnight accommodation for two at Talbots Chesterfield House.

Three little pigs will also be coming to the market to be raffled in the wildly popular ‘Pig Raffle’.  The rare breed black pigs are farmed free range just outside of Talbot by John of Ragin Pigs and have been a feature at the market since day one.  While always drawing a crowd of both little and big kids alike the pigs are sure to create a stir this month, especially with market goers having the chance of winning and taking home a pig of their very own.

To complete the vibrant village atmosphere there will be live music played in the street by local musician Kim Ritche and the Maryborough Highland Pipe Band.

Visitors to the Farmers’ Market can also drop by the adjacent Town Hall Market, where they can browse and buy delightful and unexpected handmade treasures.

Don’t miss this wonderful milestone and share in the celebrations at the Talbot Farmers’ Market on Sunday 16th March 2014.