Most Melburnians like a trip to their local market. For me
it’s the South Melbourne Market. When I go there on a Saturday or Sunday
morning I feel like I’ve stepped into a microcosm of the outside world. You’ve
got your super hipster people buying their ‘superfoods’ like kale and quinoa
that they’ll make into some flourless, sugarless quinoa loaf. Then you’ve got
the little old ladies (and men) with their trollies, hunting the best bargain
on every vegetable and fruit possible. I fall into the second category, minus
the trolley (for now).
Aside from being an experience of a lifetime, shopping at your local market has many positives for you and the environment.
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| South Melbourne Market |
Buying your fruit and vegetables at markets is often a lot cheaper than
buying it at a big supermarket. This is because there are very few ‘extra’
costs involved in market shopping. For example, a big supermarket has the pay
their supplier (the farmers), has to pay for transporting the products across
the country (or the world) and they want to make some profits for themselves.
However, the fruit and vegetables found at the market usually come straight
from the farmer to you. Less people involved generally means it’s cheaper for
us!
It’s local.
One of the best perks of market shopping is that the food is local. Local means that you are helping the local economy and putting money straight back into the pockets of the farmers rather than big multinational companies! Local also means that the food hasn’t had to travel hundreds of kilometres to get to your table. This means that less fuel has been used and there’s less greenhouse gases going into our atmosphere. The orange that you had for lunch hasn’t travelled all the way from California but is in fact from a farm in the outer suburbs of Melbourne. Win!
One of the best perks of market shopping is that the food is local. Local means that you are helping the local economy and putting money straight back into the pockets of the farmers rather than big multinational companies! Local also means that the food hasn’t had to travel hundreds of kilometres to get to your table. This means that less fuel has been used and there’s less greenhouse gases going into our atmosphere. The orange that you had for lunch hasn’t travelled all the way from California but is in fact from a farm in the outer suburbs of Melbourne. Win!
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| Anyone want a banana? |
It’s fresh.
Food from markets is so much fresher than the stuff found at the supermarket. Fruit and vegetables in supermarkets can often spend several days being shipped in refrigerated trucks heading to their final destinations. Those bananas at Coles didn’t get on the shelves magically from Queensland, they spend days on trucks. On the other hand, the fruit and vegetables at the market have been picked that morning or in the last day or so. That means they are fresh and you know exactly where they’ve come from.
Food from markets is so much fresher than the stuff found at the supermarket. Fruit and vegetables in supermarkets can often spend several days being shipped in refrigerated trucks heading to their final destinations. Those bananas at Coles didn’t get on the shelves magically from Queensland, they spend days on trucks. On the other hand, the fruit and vegetables at the market have been picked that morning or in the last day or so. That means they are fresh and you know exactly where they’ve come from.
It’s seasonal.
Eating seasonal fruits is better for you and better for the environment. Buying seasonal fruits means that you are only buying what’s available in that season. This means that as a consumer you’re not demanding strawberries in the middle of winter when they are actually a summer fruit. You’ll not only save money but you’ll help the environment. Out-of-season foods come from all over the world, which takes a hell of a lot of effort to get to you. At the market, only seasonal fruits and vegetables will be there because you guessed it, that’s all that can grow in Victoria in winter. That’s why you’re seeing all the pumpkins, potatoes and sweet potatoes at the market. They’re winter fruits. So make sure you’re only getting seasonal foods, and consider whether you really need those strawberries!
Eating seasonal fruits is better for you and better for the environment. Buying seasonal fruits means that you are only buying what’s available in that season. This means that as a consumer you’re not demanding strawberries in the middle of winter when they are actually a summer fruit. You’ll not only save money but you’ll help the environment. Out-of-season foods come from all over the world, which takes a hell of a lot of effort to get to you. At the market, only seasonal fruits and vegetables will be there because you guessed it, that’s all that can grow in Victoria in winter. That’s why you’re seeing all the pumpkins, potatoes and sweet potatoes at the market. They’re winter fruits. So make sure you’re only getting seasonal foods, and consider whether you really need those strawberries!
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| Look at all our yummy fruit and vegetables! |
It’s fun.
Let’s be honest, who doesn’t love a trip to the market. There’s so much to see whether it’s the people or the food. I’ve seen fruit there that I never knew existed! So take time out of your weekend and head down to your local market. I promise it’ll be a lot better than getting your fruit and vegetables from your supermarket, not only for you but for the environment!
Let’s be honest, who doesn’t love a trip to the market. There’s so much to see whether it’s the people or the food. I’ve seen fruit there that I never knew existed! So take time out of your weekend and head down to your local market. I promise it’ll be a lot better than getting your fruit and vegetables from your supermarket, not only for you but for the environment!
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