BELLOPY markets coordinator Susan Weil has called upon residents to support local produce stallholders after a steady decline in attendance since the market moved from the Anglican Church grounds to the Bellingen Showground.
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It’s a worrying trend that sees sales down by 40 per cent and market stallholders canvassing alternative sites.
“We called an emergency meeting as the last three markets have deteriorated steadily since our move to the showgrounds,” Susan said. “The stall holders want to go talk to the new priest and maybe we can turn things around. I’m looking at a spot in the playground next to the tennis club ... the reality is we are in big trouble and if we don’t up attendance or find a site in town we’re not going to make it.
“We were just starting to create an identity and a regular following in the community. I care about this market enormously and what its stands for and I would hate to see it close because we can’t find a venue in town that will support us.”
The Bellopy organic farmers market has been running for more than a year-and-a-half and Susan said: “I think that our farmers have one of the most important jobs on the planet … they feed us”.
Susan told the Courier-Sun the Bellopy market was set up for several reasons:
- To support and promote organic farming in the region and to help the small boutique farms keep their farm gates open and be able to earn a living
- To provide the community with access to fresh and affordable food
- To encourage the production of ethical and sustainable food
- To foster a resilient green economy by keeping dollars local, and;
- To provide a great day out for the community.
Susan is critical by what she perceives as a lack of support for the market by council.
“The stallholders are very upset that council won’t step in and help despite many a request to help give them a central venue in town and support the local producers and growers here,” Susan said. “Each time we try and find a new venue we have so many hoops to jump through. We are in the hands of the local committees who vote on it, we then have to put in a new DA and we may also then have to raise funds or apply for grants to put in the necessary facilities to run the market - store equipment, fridges, power and sinks.
“The problem is we don’t have time, every market gets worse for us and I’m concerned that we will run out of time to resolve this before the market shuts.”
The Bellopy market runs every first, third, and fifth Friday of the month.
There are more than 15 regular stalls at each market and this can increase to 20 as the seasonal produce changes.
Negotiations and discussions are still underway on alternative market sites.
