Fresh look for farmers market

By Kara Irving
LOCAL residents will get a taste of the fresh new farmers market when it relaunches this month at Toomuc Recreation Reserve, Pakenham.
Renowned for its fresh and local produce, the ‘Cardinia Ranges Farmers Market’ has been renamed the ‘Pakenham Rotary Farmers Market’ to accommodate the transition from a council to community owned event.
“It was agreed by stallholders and council that for the market to move forward the community would need to get on board,” said Cardinia Shire mayor Graeme Legge.
“The market has been a great success as an event, even winning a national award, but council has taken it as far as it can”.
Beginning on Saturday 13 February, the market will operate every second Saturday between 8am and 12pm and will maintain its fresh food reputation by providing high quality barramundi, goat’s cheese and freshly ground coffee beans.
With the market’s Pakenham racecourse venue undergoing redevelopment, the first farmers market will be held at Toomuc Recreation Reserve in Pakenham.
Funds raised from gate entry will still go towards local community groups.
This year the farmers market celebrates it eighth year as a local business operator supporting producers.