Shop local to support our farms
SHOPPING habits need to change if Toowoomba residents don’t want to lose the ability to buy fresh produce locally.
That’s according to Farmers’ Market founder and director Fiona May who said although most residents wanted to support local farmers, when it came down to it not everyone did.
Ms May runs a paddock-to-plate operation at a farm near Toowoomba, breeding pigs.
Two years ago she started Toowoomba’s first Farmer’s Markets and it went from a property in Highfields to the Toowoomba Showgrounds to the Cobb and Co Museum and now takes place at Walton Stores every Saturday.
Ms May said while the market’s following had grown over the years, people needed to make it their habit if local producers were to survive.
“I think the key is educating the community about where real food comes from and the benefits of eating wholesome healthy foods,” she said.
“It is all about quality over quantity.
“I know it’s easier to duck to Woolworths or Coles but it would be great if people made it a habit to come down to the local markets, have a coffee, interact and talk to the people who are growing the food.
“Prices don’t really differ from the supermarkets but people have to come down and find that out for themselves and start a conversation with the stall holders.
“If people don’t the farmers won’t be here forever, they will struggle and give up.
“I am even in that space on occasion. I have so much pork and I worry about where I am going to sell it sometimes.”
Ms May now runs sustainability tips on the Toowoomba Farmer’s Market Facebook page.
She said sometimes it might seem hard to make changes to our day-to-day lives but it was easy if you took it a step at a time.
Her first tip revolved around packaging.
“Look for products with
minimal packaging, like unwrapped produce. Excess packaging is often made out of unsustainable materials
and contributes to waste that ends up in landfills.”
The markets run today from 8am to 2pm at Walton
Stores.
For more information search Toowoomba Farmer’s Market on Facebook.