The Lismore Rainbow Region Organic Markets, delicious!
Okra
I am not a fan of markets. After a childhood of the Lismore Car Boot Market, buying trinkets and revolting snacks, markets don’t hold fond memories for me. So when visiting home I am never too excited about getting up at the crack of dawn and visiting the organic market where my Dad sells his produce.
Lucky for me, though, this market is nothing like my memories. Starting early, this small fresh food market only allows certified organic produce to be sold. This means that the offerings are exceeding fresh and in season. Most of the stall-holders grow their wares, which have often been harvested only hours before.
Tiny ladyfinger banana
This market will be the last of the season for some of the stalls, including my Dad. Some crops are ending, water is running low and the weather is sizzling. The idea of having no avocado’s til Anzac Day horrified some customers, but the sad specimens left on the trees weren’t worth eating, let alone selling. So he just sold beetroot and rhubarb, which quickly sold out. While visiting I ate many beetroot, steamed, pickled, and raw, grated (interestingly whole beetroot were sold to the local health food shop then purchased back in a delicious vegetable wrap from lunch).
Dad’s rhubarb
Today’s market saw reams of herbs, lettuce, rhubarb, garlic, fresh vegetables, as well as coffee, cakes and delicious vegetarian dosa.
Crispy and Thin Dosa served with dahl and spicy coconut chutney (delicious)
Freshly picked herbs, 3 bunches for $5!
curly kale
delicious fresh radishes
The market is full of friends and it really feels like a community. Kids are running around, jokes exchanged and people coming up just to chat and see what’s new. Chairs and tables set up in the middle of the space with people sipping latte’s in mismatched cups, it feels a little like a friendly neighbours living room.
Tiny, fragrant and juicy russian purple garlic
I would recommend that anyone who is in the area should visit, support local organic food production and sample some local specialities.
amazing heirloom tomato varieties
I would recommend the avocados (April to November), chokos (for a sustainable powerhouse), sunflower sprouts, and delicious dosa.
Luscious fresh sweet potato shoots (apparently delicious stir fried)
The Rainbow Region Organic Market
is on every Tuesday morning (until the end of the world)
7am – 11am
Lismore Showgrounds
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2 Comments
my husband and I have been buying local grown organic food. we have noticed a big differencein our energy levels.
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[...] I grew up on an organic farm, before organic food was trendy. My dad grew Avocados, and for most of my childhood years during the season on a weekend, we would drive into town to the truck company depot and drop the carefully packed boxes of fruit. And they were gone, to Sydney or Melbourne on big refrigerated trucks, never to be heard of again. More recently he has helped start the Rainbow Region Organic Market providing local farmers a place to sell their produce direct to local customers. I blogged about a recent visit here. [...]