Food Traceability and Farmers’ Markets

It’s hard for me to keep track of all the emerging food trends and fads.  As the name implies, fads come and go, so often so that I’ve basically given myself a break from keeping up with them for awhile.  Instead, I choose to focus on a few key things regarding the food I eat and prepare for my family and friends; quality, traceability, and nutrition.

To me, traceability is the most time-consuming of them all.  While there are some helpful smart-phone applications (like HarvestMark Food Traceability) and web resources out there to help you trace your food, I still find that the easiest, no-fail way is the good ol’ farmers’ market.

At most farmers’ markets I know that the person I’m buying from is the person who grew the produce and that he or she can likely tell me where and how it was grown.

We, Victorians, are a lucky bunch because we have the Victorian Farmers’ Market Association.  According to the website, the program ‘supported by the Victorian government [...] provides a solid basis of quality, integrity, and fairness to all consumers, [...] advocates best practices, and celebrates the work of genuine farmers, specialty makers and farmers’ markets.’

Any business or market with this logo has been accredited:

One such market is the Hurstbridge Farmers’ Market taking place Sunday, December 4th – 8:30am – 1:00pm.  It’s located on Fergusons Paddock in Hurstbridge, near the Yarra Valley.  The market has a variety of fresh and local produce, free-range meats, honeys, oils, cheeses, breads, wines, and specialty products.

We have no problem driving a bit further to farmers’ markets.  It feels good supporting local farmers and extra good knowing where my family’s food comes from.  It’s the proverbial killing two birds with one stone and it never felt so… good.

Click HERE to see a listing of all upcoming accredited markets.