WITH only days remaining until the launch of Walcha’s first Farmers’ Market, people can look forward to an action-packed day with more than 20 stalls, gourmet food, live music and children’s entertainment.
The new Farmers’ Market commences at 8.30am in McHattan Park, this Saturday 21 September.
“We are excited to be welcoming Rowan Tihema, owner and head chef of NERAM Harvest Restaurant in Armidale, who will be officially opening the Markets, along with Walcha Mayor Janelle Archdale,” co-president Paula Jenkins said.
Little Ladybird Plant Nursery in Uralla will run a gardening workshop at 9.30am on ’Understanding Soil Structure’, followed by the Official Opening at 10.30am, and a Spanish Paella cooking demonstration and tastings from 11am.
Live music, a jumping castle, face-painting and competitions will be running for the duration of the market day. A breakfast stall selling bacon and egg rolls will be operating from 8.30am and a brunch stall selling gourmet lamb burgers, sausages and steak sandwiches from 10.30am.
“We have a fantastic range of stalls attending the markets, from fruit and vegetables, beautiful by-products and home-made produce. There will be an old-fashioned milkshake and lemonade stall for kids (and big kids) and a community stall selling a range of smaller-scale produce and home-made items” Paula said.
Other stalls will be selling fresh fruit and vegetables, a range of relishes and pickles, raw and organic honey, olives and olive oils, live poultry and plants.
The Walcha Farmers’ Market Committee will also be raffling a gourmet hamper and a range of beauty and health related prizes from the Community Stall.
Raffle prizes have been donated by Rebecca Hall Hairdressing in Walcha, Food For Thought in Armidale, and a massage and beauty treatment by Theragenics in Walcha.
“The Committee would like to thank our sponsors for their very generous support in helping to get the markets’ off the ground” Ms Jenkins said.
“These include Alternation, Yalgoo, Karori Pastoral Co., Betts Transport, Walcha Gallery of Art, Cafe Graze, Pitt Son Porter & Finlayson, Walcha Vet Supplies, Tallara Partnership, Mountain Motors, thom haus handmade, New England Naturopathy, Kirton Partnership, PPS Consulting, PNJ Creative Projects, I & H Crawford, A Nivison, New Birds Boutique, Green Range Cattle Co., A & M Eliott and Rotary Club of Walcha.
The Walcha Farmer’s Markets will be held at McHattan Park the third Saturday of each month, from 8.30am to 12.30pm, adjacent to the Visitor Centre.
For more information visit www.walchafarmersmarket.org.au or call (02) 6777 2448.
