School holidays again – and don’t they seem to roll around with alarming frequency? The
dilemma, however, of what to do with restless children can find one of its resolutions in the
farmers’ markets. Out in the open air, there’s a kaleidoscope of sensations: smells and
sights and sounds, colour and movement – and barely a screen to be seen.
At the farmers’ markets there’s that sense of comfortable community which makes
everyone feel safe and relaxed. Children can be readily appeased with crunchy apples from
the Costanzo or McMahon’s stalls, or with creamy bananas from Neville Singh, or with a
punnet of beautiful berries from Tallogum or Blueberry Fields, Summit or Morrows – not to
mention the all-time hit with children which is Monty’s. Aside from his large and luscious
strawberries he has Fruit Flats and ice blocks – mango and passionfruit, or strawberry,
honey, banana amongst others.
Thirst may be sated with a Jungle Juice blend, a chilled citrus cordial fresh from the Rancho
dispenser or an Ayusa (Tea) gingery energy drink, fizzy and refreshing – or perhaps a healthy
smoothie from Other World.
Other snacks are to be found at Nudgel Nuts or Rainforest Foods who both sell macadamias
of the highest quality – or at Marlyvale Farm for their glorious buttery pecans. Marlyvale too
offers brown rice cakes, which can be dunked into a tub of hummus from either Spice
Palace or Baraka. Slightly more substantial are the ever-popular sausage rolls and spinach
rolls from Scratch Patisserie, the rainbow-hued dumplings from Radiance Kitchen, the
brown sushi rice cones from Japanese Kitchen or a buckwheat crepe from Peace, Love and
Crepes.

For something sweet there are matcha muffins from Byron Matcha, gluten-free vegan
brownies from Breadicine, lemon curd-filled Sweet n Sourdough doughnuts. Then pick up
fat sausages from Hayters Hill, sourdough from Crabbes Creek Woodfired, lettuce from
Gourmet Salad Hut and there’s dinner!

Tallogum Berries, Jungle Juice, Nudgel Nuts, Radiance Kitchen, Byron Matcha, Sweet n
Sourdough and Gourmet Salad Hut are at Mullumbimby every Friday from 7 – 11am
Costanzo Apples, McMahon’s Apples, Blueberry Fields, Summit Organics, Morrow Farm,
Monty’s, Rancho, Ayusa Tea, Other World, Rainforest Foods, Marlyvale Farm, Spice Palace,
Baraka, Scratch Patisserie, Peace, Love and Crepes, Breadicine, Hayters Hill and Crabbes
Creek Woodfired are at New Brighton every Tuesday from 8 – 11am and at Mullumbimby
every Friday from 7 – 11am.

Victoria Cosford