Bundoora Park Daylesford Heathmont
Welcome to Regional Farmers Markets (RFM).
Authenticity of produce at RFM markets
Since opening our 1st Farmers Market in 1999 we have always had strict criteria for all stallholders to follow in bringing their authentic produce to market. We take these criteria very seriously and continuously conduct audits at each market to confirm that each stallholder is following the RFM criteria.
Although it is only necessary for stallholders to meet the RFM criteria to attend our markets, many of them have, or will seek accreditation for their produce through the Victorian Farmers Market Association and we support their endeavors to do so.
We also meet the expectations of our patrons by offering as much variety at our markets as possible. It is widely recognized that there are some 'grey' areas in the VFMA accreditation model which are open to interpretation and are best addressed by the individual market operator.
We carefully administer the variety and quality of the produce offered at each market and stallholder special circumstances will to be taken into account due to location, region and lack of producers in a specific market.
We are constantly updating these 'grey' areas to ensure authenticity and we regularly publish these updates on our website under the heading of 'Stallholder Information' for all to see. As always we welcome public feedback and improvement opportunities that will further improve the quality and authenticity of RFM markets.
We are therefore confident that the community when visiting an RFM market will always experience the integrity of an Authentic Farmers Market and will find no bric a brac, craft or re-sellers at our markets.
In conclusion, were are proud of the commitment made by our stallholders and the RFM team to ensure our patrons can shop with confidence and "Fall in Love with local food ".
RFM in Partnership with SecondBite.
Regional Farmers Markets (RFM) is proud to announce that they have entered a new strategic partnership with SecondBite.
Australians are throwing out more than $5 billion worth of food annually. While over 11,500 tonnes is driven to landfill every month in Victoria, thousands of families struggle to put a meal on the table.
Formed in (2005), SecondBite is a dynamic not-for-profit organisation committed to making a positive difference by sourcing fresh nutritious food that would otherwise go to waste and redistributing it to people who are homeless, living in disadvantaged circumstances or experiencing food security issues within the community. In 2009 alone, SecondBite collected and redistributed over 700 tonnes of fresh food to 160 agencies, enough to produce 1.4 million hearty nutritious meals.
RFM believes that as Farmers Markets are at the top of the food chain for quality fresh produce, they can 'close the circle' and pass on any fresh produce that is not used at the end of each market to those less fortunate in the community.
Market stallholders who have perishable food left at the end of a market will be asked to donate this produce to SecondBite instead of it going to waste. This food will be collected and redistributed by SecondBite to people in need. Donations of food from stallholders will be made privately and confidentially and known only by RFM and the individual stallholder.
RFM will also contribute financially to SecondBite at each market. Promotional material will be displayed at the Managers Station at each market along with donation buckets should the public also wish to support SecondBite as cash donations are just as valuable as fresh food.
Katy Barfield, Executive Director of SecondBite said all of the team at SecondBite are thrilled with the support from RFM.
"Through the generosity of our growing list of food donors we are able to support 160 agencies in Victoria and Tasmania. The need for fresh, nutritious produce is growing every week and the RFM stallholders and cash donations from people shopping at the markets will make a huge difference and we are immensely thankful for your assistance," she said.
It is hoped that many stallholders will support this initiative as RFM believes that by helping those Australians less fortunate than us we can make a real difference through Farmers Markets to the community as a whole.
