General News

The NSW/ACT Regional Achievement & Community Awards are designed to encourage, acknowledge and reward the valuable contributions individuals, communities and businesses are making throughout regional and rural New South Wales and the ACT. Does your market deserve to be recognised? What about your awesome stall holders? Why not think about entering them into the Awards!? … Continue reading Nominations for Regional Achievement and Community Awards now open

Sydney Water is seeking input from non-residential users of the Greater Sydney water supply. More from Anne-Marie Mitchell of Sydney Water: You may be aware that Greater Sydney is in drought. As set by the Metropolitan Water Plan, when dam levels drop to 50%, water restrictions will be introduced. We are preparing for this. The … Continue reading Consultation sought on impending water restrictions for Greater Sydney water supply

The two-year transition period for the new Country of Origin labelling requirements ended on 1 July 2018. Almost all vendors at farmers markets are required to comply with the new regulations for labelling. More information on what the requirements are can be found here. If your CoOL labelling is not compliant, now is the time … Continue reading ACCC takes cautionary approach to Country of Origin Labelling compliance

Contracted by NSW Department of Primary Industries, Digital Content Creator Debrah Novak travels NSW delivering video making workshops for primary producers. The three-hour, hands on workshops specialise in working with beginners to teach them how to use their smart phone or iPad to create a 1-2 minute video. Debrah has 25 years experience working within … Continue reading Smart phone video making workshops for primary producers

The Australian Farmers' Markets Association has announced that nominations are being accepted for a Producer Representative on the AFMA committee. Each state has been asked to submit two nominations for the position. From AFMA: "The Producer Representative is intended to represent the views, needs and issues facing food producers active in farmers markets. They should … Continue reading Nominations for Producer Representative – Australian Farmers’ Markets Association

The Australian Farmers' Markets Association is our national representative body. Founded in 2003, this volunteer-run organisation has been working to create a cohesive fellowship of farmers markets across Australia, committed to supporting farmers and local communities. Through many years of research both here and overseas, AFMA has developed a set of model rules that advocate … Continue reading Reminder: Annual update for farmers markets info on AFMA website now due

From the NSW Department of Primary Industries The NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) is undertaking a three year mapping program across nine regions in NSW commencing in August 2017 to assist local government and other organisations map important agricultural land. The program supports the NSW Department of Planning and Environment's regional planning targets that … Continue reading NSW Department of Primary Industries mapping important agricultural land

From the NSW Food Authority From 1 July 2018, local councils will regulate all domestic kitchens where food that will be sold directly to the final consumer is prepared. The NSW Food Authority will continue to regulate domestic kitchens that only sell food to other businesses, such as cafés, restaurants and supermarkets. When a food … Continue reading Change in regulations for home based food businesses from 1 July 2018

[Image of the Bega Valley showground pavilion sourced from the Bega Valley History Scrapbook and published here under Creative Commons licence.] Is your market conducted at your local showgound on Crown land? Then it's in your best interest to participate in the consultation process just announced by the NSW Department of Industry. Showgrounds are precious … Continue reading NSW Crown Showgrounds: survey and focus groups