Who and what we are
Miranda Sharp co-ordinates the stallholders for the community groups and the three markets, which operate on a not-for-profit basis. Needless to say, she can usually be found on a Saturday morning at a farmers’ market somewhere!

A retired chef and caterer, Miranda is currently a freelance writer for The Age ‘Epicure’ section and has cheerfully devoted 25 professional years to Melbourne ’s food industry.
She finds it very hard to determine where work ends and life begins.

Farmers’ markets are the culmination of her interest in Victorian producers and the edible spoils of every season. It is her quest to provide opportunities for everyone who eats to access, enjoy and afford fresh food. And more fundamentally, to remind us all that without the farmers’, the rest isn’t possible.

MARKET FOCUS

Very simply, we are markets for Victorian farmers to sell direct to their customers. Fresh
produce sold by its grower, and manufacturers who grow their own ingredients. No re-
sellers/agents are permitted.

A small proportion of manufacturers who hand make their product attend on an
occasional/seasonal/rotational basis of them being 1/ a ‘staple’ (ie bread), 2/
particularly unique and unavailable elsewhere, 3/ ingredients sourced direct from
other stallholders or convivia 4/ a stall which supports a local community group (ie
fundraising cake stall).

Stallholders must be involved in a permanent, hands-on capacity in the production of
their products, and may only sell their own products.

All product must be GM-free or grown/produced with no/minimal chemicals

Any produce that is claimed to be organic must be certified organic.

The markets are plastic bag free: stallholders may not bring or supply new plastic bags
(including the bio-bag variety) to customers unless for food regulation requirements

We make ourselves an example of responsible practice and minimal waste.
Packaging must be code 1, 2 or 3 plastic, if at all possible. Alternatives in tasting cups,
coffee cups, juice glasses etc such as PET and cornstarch are actively encouraged.

Click HERE for the Melbourne Community Farmers' Markets Introduction (pdf)