Katie, Beau and the Farmgate by Nashdale Fruit Co.

How long as Nashdale been part of the OFM family

About 4.5 years now.  We started out at Marrickville Market first and then joined Orange Grove Market about a year later. 

Your A-frame would have to be up there with one of the singularly most photographed items around the organic universe!  How did the initial design/use come in to play: was it something that was put together as a "make do for now and we'll deal with it later" or was it deliberately planned.

We are always looking for exciting ways to display our produce.  We take great pride in not just how our product tastes, but how it looks as well.  Setting up your stall at each market is an important part for us.

We are always on the look out for different things and came across the A-frame at Marrickville Markets about 4 years ago.  After a month's use it was a bit worse for wear so we decided to build some ourselves.  These are the A-frames we now use.

You are relatively new-comers as producers.  How difficult was the transition from city to country.

Farming has been in my background for generations.  I grew up spending most of my holidays on one of my grandparents farms. My Dad (John) started orcharding when I was about 5 and is still an orchadist today 25 years later.

I started working at the markets with him as soon as I could see over the tables, but they weren't farmers markets back then, just craft-type markets.

Beau and I worked with Dad and ran markets for him on our weekends for about 10 years before Beau decided to give up his "day job", move to the country and try some markets on his own.

Because of the background we already had with the markets and the guidance that Dad gave Beau when he first decided to make the official "tree change" to the farm, it was a much easier transition for us than it would be for many others.

As idyllic as many people think farming looks, it's a lot of hard work and we have definitely had our fair share of issues as well.

What has been one of the record sales of any item at one market

Hmmmm...I'm not sure, after 20+ years of being involved in markets there are many stories!  But we did have one customer come back 5 times to market before Christmas a year or so ago.  Each time she came back for more cherries!

The first time was for her household.  She then came back for her neighbours after sharing some over the fence with them.  

Then, after some visiting some relatives went home taking the ones out of her fridge, she came back to restock again....and it continued.  

It was great and such a nice way to end the year.

What has been the most fulfilling part of market life for the Nashdale mob

It would definitely have to be some of the amazing relationships we now have with our customers and other stallholders!  

It is a pleasure to be able to help educate them in what we do and how we do it!  The feedback we receive from our customers and their appreciation is incredible (especially when they show up rainy days to support us) and it makes all the hard work worthwhile.

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No arguments here!  From punters to stallies, everyone loves the Nashdale crew and we thank Katie for giving us a little insight in to life on the land and from where we stand, the love that they put in to their crops is reflected not just by the quality of their produce but by returning customers they have week in, week out.

Best bit?  As their branding says "100% Australian Owned and Grown"...read it, live it, love it.

Gee Love.....guess who LOVES Marrickville Markets!!

When did you first discover the wonders of Marrickville Markets

I've been a fan of organic food ever since I got introduced to id.  I decided to ease into the organic lifestyle slowly and did some research about organic shopping online.

This is where i came across Organic Food Markets!  Hence the Marrickville Markets!

We love your Facebook comment and love that you shared it with the world!  Are we correct in guessing that your time at market is not a fly-in/fly-out experience....and it is a solo or group expedition?

I intended my first trip to be a fly-in/fly-out, but the stalls were just so irresistible that I stayed for about an hour or so.  I now leave my weekly shopping to Sundays and even if I have finished purchasing my weekly goodies, I stay back and keep an eye out for things I'd most likely try the following week.

The day i posted that status on Facebook, I was just overwhelmed with the energy and experience while shopping in the morning!  Loved, loved, loved every minute of it!

Who is your favourite stallie and why

The dearest (closest to my heart) to me is the fruits and veggies stall.  After having non-organic food for so many years, I straight away see the difference in colour, texture and smell of the product.

My parents aren't fully aware of the difference between organic and non-organic food but now that I've squeezed the organic fruits and veggies into their diet, they love it too!  They keep talking about how different and nutritious it all looks and tastes.  Fruits and veggies are my staples at the market.

I also love the nuts and spices stall!! I Buy dates from there each week and last week the man who served me got me to try some dried mangoes and it was delicious!  I didn't even ask for it, so it was really nice.

In your opinion, what is it about markets like ours that are an important part of not only the local community but for those dedicated shoppers who travel quite a distance if nothing else than to get their fave organic pantry staples

It is the diversity and the healthy food range available to suit everybody's needs!  it is where one can shop for products, trusting that it is safe and all natural.  Knowing that we are able to get food that our bodies were actually made for adds to the excitement of shopping at Marrickville Markets!

How would you sum up Marrickville Markets in 5 words

Diverse

Addictive

Organic

Healthy

Fabulous!

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There is only one way to end this wonderful little interview.  Below is an example of Gee Love's addiction to all things organic and Marrickville Market and we will annotate with her words cause there ain't nothing like the real thing!

I call it the "organic tower".  Sprouted multi grain lightly toasted with organic free range boiled eggs, organic avocado and tomato.  Nomnomnom

See Ya 2013!

Emily

The Jugernauts

Monica

Kirstie

Nathan

shazthebazza

herbgal

ya_smin

Gettin those lungs ready for a HUUUUGE shoutout!

Venus Wholefoods

Louisa

Miss Prue

Sydney Wholefoods

madd_ii

Cherry Lush

Vani

Smiths Organics

The Very Hungry Katerpilla

Jeremy

Olive Tree Providores

What initially drew you in to the world that is now known as Olive Tree Providores

I decided my passion for food and healthy lifestyle could also be a business that supported local farmers.

Olive oil also has amazing health benefits and Australia produces some of the world's best, so Olive Oil Providores was born out of a love of local food and a boredom with the conventional corporate business principles.

Why markets?

Because they are the best place to meet our customers and build a relationship with them.  I also detest the major supermarket manipulation of local farmers and growers, so I was keen to support an alternate place for growers to sell and market their produce.

Obviously market shoppers attend for varying reasons including promoting the Buy Australian mantra.  What other ways do you think this message can be given either overtly or by other means

We should encourage our friends and family to shop from sustainable and environmentally sound sources.  Big corporate supermarkets are none of those.  We simply have to encourage everyone we (personally) know to shop locally for fresh healthy food and by doing that we automatically help farmers build and maintain a sustainable business.

The more we enthuse the principle, the more it will happen and the more we protect our environment.

Do you have any new additions on the horizon that we can look forward to

Yes, we are about to launch a whole new range which we are very excited about which should be ready by Christmas.  The new range takes the "shop local" to an  entirely new level......so stay tuned!!!!

What 5 words would you use to encourage conversion to not only organic but more importantly to buy Australian

Future proofing a sustainable future for all  (a little more than 5 words) plus it's a fantastic place to meet really friendly people!

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And on that note we thank Belinda, not only for having an amazing range of oils, soaps and dukka each week at market, but more importantly her determination to encourage everyone (and by that we mean everyone!) to shop and buy local 

Sharing a little bit of love

The Lush Scoop

Nikole

bunny_griff

EQ

Amy

Miranda

weebirdy

The Jugernauts

It's all about the food

As you know, we LOVE to say thank you to the stgrammers, the social networkers, the spotters, the shoppers...well basically everyone really.

But did you know that you can "spot" and share your food discoveries?  

Well, after a bit of digging we found some and by our standards they are pretty darned good photos.  So why not share some of yours and you never know...they just might become famous in the land of the blog!

be mindful though: these are not our photos so respect to those who took them yes?

Iron Angel and her LOVE for Marrickville Markets

Iron Angel has posted SO many amazing photos in the sphere of stgram we felt she deserved a MASSIVE shout out and a thank you for letting us share her love of Marrickville Markets!