When Baylee Hollingshed leaves home bound for the Sydney Flower Market it’s 2.30am.
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She arrives just before it opens at 5am, chooses her flowers and then drives back to Maitland to open her florist shop in High Street by 9.30am.
She makes the trip twice or three times a week and later this month she’ll leave the long commute behind and start buying from Newcastle Flower Market.
The market, which is the brain child of Jessica Eckford-Aguilera, starts on April 20 and will feature local growers and wholesalers. Buyers can expect a wide range of flowers including unusual types and imported varieties.
Ms Hollingshed said the Newcastle market gave producers and wholesalers an opportunity to sell their products locally and it offered florists the chance to develop strong links with them.
“Shoppers will be buying fresh flowers locally rather than the big supermarket retailers getting their money,” she said.
"There are a few growers around that will be able to showcase their produce to local shoppers without the competition of larger Sydney wholesalers ... transporting their stock to Sydney can also be a bit troublesome."
Ms Hollingshed moves away from the traditional look when she buys flowers at a market so she can bring something different to Maitland.
“I’m sticking away from traditional style and I’m bringing a modern and unstructured look,” she said.