Jan Power's Farmers Market Brisbane

Two out of the four Friday nights of every month, I stay awake; giddy with excitement as every second and fourth Saturday of the month my local Saturday Farmers Markets are on and I can’t wait to pack my canvas bags and my trolley in the car and head to the markets at 6 am the following morning.  The markets I go to, are the Jan Powers Farmers Markets, they are on at various locations through out the week.  I usually attend the Wednesday ones every week in the city at the top of Queen Street, near the bridge to south bank and always go to the fortnightly ones at New Farm Powerhouse. I have been attending the New Farm Powerhouse markets since I was 13 years old. So I’ve become quite close and fond of the farmers/growers. Though not certified organic, most the produce is in fact “organic”. The actual organic certification is very expensive to purchase and most the growers can’t afford it.  By not having the actual certification, this allows the growers to sell the fresh and spray free produce at an affordable price, providing those who can’t afford conventional organic produce with an affordable, fresh, tasty and spray free option.

  

The produce is of the highest quality and taste as Fruits are allowed to ripen fully in the field and are brought directly to you—no long-distance shipping (lower food-miles), no gassing to simulate the ripening process, no sitting for weeks in storage. This food is as real as it gets—fresh from the farm. Every haul from the market is different for me as it varies with season.  Shopping and cooking from the farmers market helps you to reconnect with the cycles of nature. As you look forward to asparagus in spring, savour sweet corn in summer, or bake pumpkins in autumn, you reconnect with the earth, the weather, and the turning of the year.  Both markets are home to a number of stalls ranging from fruit and vegetables too breakfast and cake stalls. At the Jan Powers Markets there is always something for everyone.

 

As my mother and I always attend the Fortnightly powerhouse markets we have devised some sort of routine. We get up at the crack of dawn, get dressed and pack our red spotty trolley and various eco-friendly canvas bags in the boot of the car. Either she drives or I do, scaring the drivers off the road with my L-Plates. Parking can be an issue at the Powerhouse Markets as it is quite busy. Sometime we are lucky enough to get a park in the parking spots provided and if not we park in the library parking lot a few streets over, and take a short-cut to the market through New Farm Park. We have our two favourite stalls, both, which sell 100% spray free, delicious and affordable fruit and vegetables. I was at the last powerhouse markets yesterday for 2013 and managed to score, 2 x large punnets of raspberries, 1 x punnet of blueberries, 1 x punnet of figs, cherries, 6 beetroots, 1 lettuce, 1kg of zucchini, 500g cucumbers, 6 lemons, 3kg of red-flesh papaya, 3kg of lady-finger bananas, 1 x 6 bag of avocados, snow peas, a quarter of a pumpkin, 6 x passion fruit from these two stalls combined for a low price of $70. We also managed to get 3kg of long watermelon, 2 x rock melons, a tray of mangoes, 2 x bag of mushrooms, 1kg of white nectarines,  6 x punnets of strawberries, a fresh basil plant, 500 grams of low acid tomatoes, a bunch of gorgeous sunflowers and our usual juices for $50, which totaled $120 for our MASSIVE fruit and vegetable haul. Once we do our fruit and vegetable haul, we always stop at our favourite juice and smoothie stall. They do the most tasty, affordable, and appealing to the eye juices. We never leave without one. A small is $7.00 and a large is $8.00, cheap and delicious. The lady’s are also incredibly nice and are happy for you to create your own.  Mum and I always get a large and small, beetroot, apple, orange, carrot and ginger juice for breakfast. Every time you order the straw is topped with a different array of layered fruit. After sipping on our juices, we head pack to the car, load up, head home and unpack. It’s a nice way to spend quality time with your family, get outside, purchase some affordable produce and have a yummy breakfast out. 


 

The set up of the City Markets is a little different, I don’t usually do my weekly grocery shop there, I spend max $40 and buy little bits and pieces to top up if we are getting low on certain fruit and vegetables. Most the stalls are the same but there are some different stalls.  I would defiantly check it out if your are in the city, my friends and I sometimes meet up there, grab some fruit and veg and a smoothie and/or salad and have lunch together.



If you live in Brisbane these markets are a must! Supporting your local farmers markets does not only protect the environment, support local farmers and increase your knowledge of where your food comes from, you also get to nourish yourself and enjoy REAL flavours of food.  The markets wont be on for a few weeks due to the Christmas break, so if your intrigued and going to take my advice, make sure you check the dates on the website before you decide to go!

http://www.janpowersfarmersmarkets.com.au/

Brisbane City Markets
WHEN: Every Wednesday
TIME: 10am – 6pm
WHERE: Queen St Mall, Bridge End

LAST 2013 Markets – 18th December
FIRST 2014 Markets – 22nd January 

Powerhouse Newfarm Markets
WHEN: 2nd & 4th Saturday every Month.
TIME: 6AM – 12PM (Noon)
WHERE: The Brisbane Powerhouse.
119 Lamington St, New Farm.

LAST 2013 Markets – 14th December
FIRST 2014 Markets – 11th January 

Demi

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