Background reading:
Original announcement of new wholesale organic food market for Lismore, New South Wales
Lismore Showgrounds
Wednesday 1 December 1999
7.00am to 12 noon
The first Organic Market Day - where Certified Organic producers and manufacturers meet to sell their produce to the wholesale, retail and restaurant trade - is to be launched at Lismore Showgrounds on Wednesday, 1 December, from 7.00am to 12 noon. It will be the first market of its kind in Australia.
People to contact for further information are listed below.
Rainbow Region Organic Market
To be known as the Rainbow Region Organic Market, the day is being sponsored by a dedicated group of organic growers and buyers, who perceive that there is a keen need in the region for a venue where the people who grow organic food can meet directly with those who buy and then on-sell their produce. Organisers from TROPO (the Tweed Richmond Organic Producers Organisation) expect a minimum of 20 stalls on the first day, which will provide both small and large organic farmers with a regular marketing outlet where they can trade their organic produce, hopefully on an ongoing basis.
It is expected that market stalls will sell a range of seasonal produce such as herbs, tomatoes, zucchini, cucumber, lettuce, cabbage, silverbeet, sweet corn, Asian vegetables, bananas, avocadoes, watermelons and perhaps mangoes. As this is a wholesale market, box and bag lots will be the minimum quantity traded. However after 9:00AM, at the inaugural markets, smaller than wholesale amounts will be traded.
Wide range of organic produce
As well as fresh fruit and vegetables, distributors will be selling such produce as organic flours and fertilizers, organic seedlings, hommus and tofu, even organic milk. Organic vendors from Mullumbimby and Nimbin will offer organic tea, coffee and cakes to the crowds, and any other producers or manufacturers of organic products are very welcome to showcase their ranges.
Market organisers are aiming for the Rainbow Region Organic Market - which includes the area from the Tweed through to Grafton - to become a weekly or bi-weekly event. "Initially, we'll see what sort of a response we get from the wholesale buyers and growers, but so far the reaction from both sides has been fantastic", said organiser, Howard Wilkinson, managing director from Santos Trading Co.
Market Day organisers believe that this area of Australia could lead the country by offering a wholesale organic marketplace. "We have an 'organically-aware' population in the Northern Rivers which understands the benefits of eating organic," added organic grower, Hogan Gleason. "There are increasing numbers of people here who want high quality fresh food that has been produced and delivered to them in a way that is environmentally sustainable. This is a real advantage in setting up our new organic marketplace".
Benefits to growers and buyers
Although there will be free entry to the inaugural market , future markets will require both wholesale buyers and sellers to register with the market, for a small fee. So far, interest has been shown from such buyers as Organic by Choice, Box and Dice (Kyogle), Santos Trading Co, Fundamental Foods, Healthy Life (Ballina), Nimbin Organics and Nimbin Emporium, and it is expected that there will also be non-commercial groups of buyers who band together to pay the buyer's fee in order to be able to purchase wholesale quantities of quality organic foods.
"The hardest thing for me is to market my produce", says Maureen Pederson, who grows organic herbs in Kyogle. "This market day will give organic growers like me a regular outlet that's closer than the Brisbane markets, specialises in organic food, and cuts down on my freight costs. I'm absolutely delighted!" she said.
Added Howard Wilkinson, "We see it is a chance for buyers and growers to have direct and much needed face-to-face contact. To start off with, often growers have to wait between 30 to 80 days for payment. This market will allow for either COD, or 7 to 14 days payment. They'll save on freight costs, and will be able to offer their produce directly to wholesale buyers.
"Buyers will benefit with fresher produce of a better quality, bought in an environment where they can offer direct feedback to growers on the quality of their food on a week-to-week basis. The people, who ultimately eat the food, will get fresh, healthy food on their tables within hours of picking. Growers will also hear what the marketplace actually needs them to grow. Apart from that, it should bring everyone a better price."
Marketing organic food cooperatively
Organisers estimate that there are about 300 organic growers within the Northern Rivers' Rainbow Region. Organic food production is based on a system of farming that maintains and replenishes soil fertility and health. Organic farmers grow without the use of toxic chemicals, ensuring not only the health of the soil and environment but also maximum health and safety for the consumer. Under the strict organic standards set by the certifying bodies it is prohibited to use either food irradiation or genetic engineering in the production of organic products.
Organic food has been grown in the area for 20 years, with official certification being introduced about a decade ago. Certified organic growers are required to follow strict rules and regulations before being allowed to declare their food organic on labels. It takes up to three years to be able to become a certified organic grower.
A long-term aim of the Market Day organisers is to develop a marketing cooperative based around a Quality Assured packing shed and cool rooms. "Many small growers want to be able to meet the requirements, but individually, don't have the money to build sheds and coolrooms", added Hogan. "Perhaps ultimately we could use the 'Rainbow Region Organic Market' as a regional label to market our organic produce further afield.
"At TROPO, our vision is to establish a meeting place for the certified organic industry. A first step is the Rainbow Region Organic markets, which seems naturally to solve so many of the problems faced by the industry in our region."
Howard Wilkinson - phone (02) 6685 5685
Hogan Gleeson - phone (02) (02) 6628 2391
Maureen Pederson - phone (02) 6636 4307
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