Farmers Market's

Farmers Market's

Rock the Farmer's Markets This Year

If you shop at Sunshine Coast Organic Meats, you're probably interested in voting with your dollar and shopping at places that represent the values you hold in your life: local food, ethically produced, highly nutritious and delicious for your family. While we have your meat and produce (that's eggs and milk, too!) orders sorted, there's plenty of places you can go for fresh fruit, veg, herbs and more. There's Kunara Organic Market next door to our butcher shop. Kunara is everything you need in one stop, including a cafe and an extensive pharmacy aisle. 

If you don't live nearby Forest Glen, rely on delivery from Sunshine Coast Organic Meats or you're looking for something new and fun, there's somewhere else you can look for your locally made produce. The farmer's markets!

The farmer's markets that are run around the Sunshine Coast are packed full of produce grown locally, picked very recently, and chock full of goodness that you can reap the benefits off. Plus, shopping the farmer's market allows you to shop seasonally, save money and get some gentle exercise in on a free weekend! 

Convinced yet? If you're going to be hitting the farmer's markets this year, you'll need these tips below!

First and foremost, find your nearest and/or biggest farmer's market near you! You can find heaps of information on your local community pages, Facebook search and websites like visitsunshinecoast.com. 



Once you’ve settled on a few market you’d love to attend, mark it on your calendar, set a reminder on your phone and let your friends and family know. With a prepared schedule, you can ensure you have the free time to truly enjoy the day and you can start the day with everything you need. Speaking of things you need, read more below: 

Budget

It is easy to get carried away by all of the amazing things on offer, so ensuring you have been honest with yourself about a budget that works for you and sticking to it is one way to enjoy the farmers market while you’re there and afterwards, too. Remember, you don’t have to buy everything you love at the markets. Though vendors love your support, they understand everyone is at a different stages in life. You can also get the vendors seller information and contact them when you can afford to purchase your desired items. Otherwise, if you do have a bit to spend, ensure you allocate a specific amount and stick to it as closely as possible. Some ways you can do this include moving the money to an account for a specific card, getting cash out or setting a limit on your card. This is a great way to support local farmers without breaking the bank or disadvantaging other important areas of your life.  

Bags
Consider how you’ll transport all your goodies. Two hands are better than one, but a few reusable tote bags, a basket or a trolley is ideal. When you remember to bring your reusable bags and containers, you can keep your hands free to hold a cup of coffee, hand over cash or hold hands with your loved ones. It also helps to reduce litter, waste and your carbon footprint, and makes you feel good! If you’re buying loose items including nuts, fruits or vegetables, baked goods etc. you can bring containers to safely store them and prevent mixing, squashing or damage.  

Embrace It
You may have your heart set on some produce or item you want to buy and it can be pretty disappointing when you can’t find what you’re looking for. Some vendors come and go and some seasons create more or less produce depending on the weather, conditions and interest. Shopping at farmers markets means you're in sync with the seasons. Embrace it! Let go of expectations and go with the flow. Engage with vendors to ask what they think for swaps, suggestions and the best of. Take advantage and buy what's in season, as it's not only fresher but often cheaper and more nutritious, too. The markets are supposed to be an experience, so let it be one! 

Share the Love
Lastly, follow up! If you see something you love, love it up! Check them out on Instagram, Facebook and follow them. Drop likes on your fav posts and give them a review on Google or their website if they have one. If you have some feedback or you want to sing their praises, do that, too! Either shoot them an email, a message or give them a call. Vendors love knowing the difference they’re making to their community. 

Doing these fives things ensure you get the MOST out of our amazing farmer's markets. The markets can be a fantastic and enriching experience that benefits you during and after by following these five tips. Ensure you’re prepared, you’ve set a clear budget, you bring bags to store all your new goodies, be open to anything and share the love.


See you at our next market visit!