FARMER ON YOUR PLATE AT ESPLANADE

All kinds of food, prepared by great chefs, is part of the FREE Farmer On Your Plate event on the Fremantle Esplanade this Saturday November 4. It is on from 10am to 4pm, so combine it with viewing many of the Fremantle Biennale shows around town.

Roel Loopers

STRAWBERRY HEAVEN IN FREO TODAY

 

At Benny’s Bar

 

If you like strawberries there is only one place to be this afternoon and that is Fremantle!

The STRAWBERRY SUNDAY FESTIVAL is on from 12 midday to 3pm all along the Cappuccino Strip, so get the kids ready, polish the Zimmerframe, and come into the port city to show support for our local strawberry growers, who are doing it tough after the needle scare.

Roel Loopers

SUPPORT FREO’S STRAWBERRY SUNDAY!

 

 

Brilliant idea!

Fremantle will become strawberry central this Sunday in a show of support for WA strawberry growers.

25,000 punnets of local strawberries will be delivered to restaurants and cafes along the Cappuccino Strip, who will be encouraged to create strawberry-inspired dishes and give away strawberries to customers.

Fremantle-based strawberry distributor John Da Silva said Strawberry Sunday was a way for people to show their support for local growers affected by the strawberry contamination scare.

“We’ve got 20 tonnes of strawberries that have been donated from local growers to make this event happen,” Mr Da Silva said.

“Getting lots of people down to Freo on Sunday to enjoy our beautiful WA strawberries would be a fantastic demonstration of confidence in our local industry and a real boost for the growers who are doing it tough at the moment.”

Mayor Brad Pettitt said the City of Fremantle was happy to support Strawberry Sunday.

“Fremantle is famous for its fabulous restaurants and cafes, and I’m sure they’ll be able to come up with some amazing new recipes using fresh WA strawberries,” Mayor Pettitt said.

“Everyone is welcome to come down to Freo for Strawberry Sunday to show the world that WA strawberries are not only safe to eat, they’re also absolutely delicious!”

The City is also planning a range of family-friendly activities, including face painting, live music and more.

Strawberry Sunday is on this Sunday from 12 noon until 3pm.

For more information visit Strawberry Sunday on the What’s On page on the City of Fremantle website.

FREO FOOD REVOLUTION

Robert Peters of FREO FOOD was the second speaker at Monday’s Fremantle Network event at the National Hotel, and the concept of the community having more control over the food chain by purchasing from small growers and farmers is very interesting.

“It is a platform to regain ownership of our food system to build connections with producers and each other to revolutionise how we engage with food.”

Unfortunately it was not very well communicated how it worked and how the idea can grow without becoming another fresh food shop. At the moment there is a depot but Robert did not mention where that is, so I assume we’ll have to check out the Facebook page to find out more, but he did mention that food could become more expensive once they went into a brick and mortar venture.

Better quality food produced by local producers but 10-15 per cent cheaper than the shops sounds almost too good, but the future will tell if that is sustainable.

I am not sure also if Food Freo is a not for profit group, but one can also go to houses and buy products there direct from those who grow vegies in their gardens.

Blueberries from Jandakot, pork and other meat from Margaret River, eggs from a couple who started a small egg farm, bread, root vegetables and lettuce, mushrooms, fish, local garlic. It all sounds great, and Robert said it was “really value for farmers and consumers.”

I was surprised though to hear that the group is now thinking of including craft from local artisans as that is a whole different kettle of fish, and my impression was that there are a lot of unresolved business issues the group should sort out first before expanding and sell anything else.

For that same reason I am at loss why Freo Food applied for a six-month lease of the No 1 studio at J Shed in the Bathers Beach Art Precinct. I am not at all sure how a food business does fit in with any of the criteria for that art area.

Anyhow, it is a great idea to buy direct from producers and if it can become a viable business good on them!

Roel Loopers

TWO GREAT FARMERS MARKETS THIS WEEKEND

There are two great local farmers markets on this long WA DAY long weekend, so go and buy some great fresh produce, network with your community, drink yummie coffee and eat delicious food while listening to live music.

This Saturday the COOBY FARMERS MARKET is on from 9am-2pm at the Len Packham Reserve on Waverley Road Coolbellup, and on Sunday the traditional first Sunday of the month HUGE Fremantle GROWERS GREEN MARKETS are on from 8am to noon at the South Fremantle Senior High School at Lefroy Road. There is art and craft, bread, pastries, meat, fish, food stalls forgreat breakfast, facepainting, music, and it is a lot of fun.

Local markets give one a great sense of belonging to one’s community and are a great way of catching up with friends and neighbours in a relaxed outdoor atmosphere, so take advantage of them.

Roel Loopers

CELEBRATE GROWERS GREEN’S BIRTHDAY

On Sunday the GROWERS GREEN MARKET at the South Fremantle Senior High School in Lefroy Street, Beaconsfield, will be celebrating its first birthday, so go along and support this inniative by a few local Fremantle women. It runs from 8.30-12.30 and there will be entertainment besides great fresh produce, meat, eggs and yummie food and coffee.

The market was started by Sonia Martinez, Georgie Adeane, Ingrid Waltham and Kathy Anketell and has proved to be a real Fremantle crowd puller.

The atmosphere is just great. I love the coffee, the ultra fresh free range eggs and vegies, and the whiskey cured smoked salmon is something I always need to take home.

This Sunday will be a BIG MARKET day with stalls selling hand-made, used and vintage clothing, crafts, gifts, books, and much more.

Bring the family! Plenty of space for the kids to have a run around and have fun, while the parents can sit down and have breakfast.

Roel Loopers