The Riverina Producers’ Market gives farmers direct access to customers and in return, shoppers know exactly where their food comes from and how it has been grown.
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They go home with a freshly harvested, or recently made product, that has a long shelf life.
When is it?
Mark it in your calendar for your weekly shop.
Where is it?
Wagga Showgrounds, corner of Bourke Street and Urana Street.
Stalls are located inside Hammond Hall.
What can I buy there?
Drop into the market for your week’s groceries and maybe a tasty treat or two.
Stallholders offer a range of range of seasonal fruit and vegetables, eggs, honey, meat, cheese, bread and pastries.
Take a look at our virtual shopping list and start planning your menu.
Who does the market support?
Meet Tony Caccamo
Tony’s specialty is his home-grown tomatoes and tells all passer-bys “no need to buy, just try”.
“I grow them back home in Griffith,” he said.
“I have been here at the markets for 12 months.”
Meet Katrin Jarvis
Katrin, the owner of The Patch Homegrown, proudly sells her home-grown seedlings.
There’s a bit of everything from produce to herbs and heirloom vegetable seedlings.
“We also have jams and eggs,” Katrine said.
“We have been involved with the markets for over two years.
“It brings farmers here and people can see what is around our area, otherwise you just go to your big business.”
Katrine said the beauty of heirloom seedlings is people can take them home and the plant can stay in the family for generations.
Meet Angela Metcalfe
Angela works from home in Bomen, cooking up a storm of tasty treats to bring to the markets each week.
“Every week I do pies, mini quiches, cakes and I just started doing some meals,” she said.
“Chicken liver pate is very popular.”
Her trick to a crunchy Anzac biscuit is using molasses.
If you need to pick a lunch to go, Angela also has sandwiches available.
“I have been part of the market for three years,” she said.
Meet Maria Berduci
Maria, the owner of FnM Berduci Produce, has everything you will need to stock up your vegetable crisper.
“We are from Cobram, Victoria,” she said.
“We come every Thursday and feed the locals who look forward to fresh produce.
“People want to bypass the supermarkets and buy direct off farmers.”
Maria said people shop at the markets for three reasons.
“It has better flavour,” she said.
“It lasts longer and they know they are supporting Australian farmers.”
How did it start?
Leanne Wheaton, one of the organisers of the Riverina Producers’ Market, said the weekly initiative started a few years ago.
“We have all the major meat groups, so beef, pork and lamb, which all comes from 100 kilometres around Wagga,” she said.
“We have local beer, we have chocolate and whiskey.”
Ms Wheaton said the key is everything is local.
“The reason it started on a Thursday is that we wanted people to come here and do their weekly shop,” she said.
“The market is where you get your groceries.”
Ms Wheaton said consumers are more conscious about where their food comes from.
“I am a beef producer,” she said.
“Customers can talk to me about where that cow comes from, how it was handled and for people who are worried about where it comes from, they need to be able to talk to the farmer.”
Ms Wheaton said the market has grown, particularly since being located inside the showgrounds.
“People come hail, rain or shine,” she said.
“We are always here.
“This market supports the local farmers and local business owners.”
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