Maitland’s fresh food revolution has started a new chapter.
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The city’s Maitland Produce Market has become the Slow Food Earth Market Maitland.
A crowd of producers, volunteers and supporters gathered alongside the Hunter River to launch the new-look market on Thursday.
Slow Food International’s Professor Francesco Sottile came all the way from Italy to open the Slow Food Earth Market Maitland and the Slow Food of Australia national conference, which is being held in the city this week.
He praised Slow Food Hunter Valley for its efforts in helping to get the market started and shoppers for supporting the market.
“This is the first earth market in Australia, there are not so many earth markets around the world,” Professor Sottile said.
Slow Food International’s Professor Francesco Sottile speaks at the market launch
“I consider that you should be very proud of this day and the work that you did in the last month to get this result.
“Yesterday we had the chance to visit some growers and had the chance to appreciate the sustainability of their production
“It is key to build relationships with the growers.”
Maitland mayor Cr Peter Blackmore declares the market open.
Professor Sottile said educating the next generation about good, clean and fair food, was vital to a sustainable future.
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He also praised Slow Food Hunter Valley leader Amorelle Dempster for her tireless work in ensuring the market was a success.
He said Slow Food groups across the nation could follow Maitland’s lead and start their own earth market.
Slow Food Hunter Valley leader Amorelle Dempster speaks at the market launch.
“It is important to stay all together, also with children, on a day like this because we need to strengthen our efforts,” he said.
Mayor of Maitland, Cr Peter Blackmore, rang a ship’s bell to declare the market open.
“I must admit, and I freely admit, when Amorelle started I was a little bit skeptical as to whether Maitland people were ready for this, or whether they would support it,” he said.
“What we’ve found is that every day the markets have been on we’ve had endless number of emails and comments from people all wanting to have it on longer and have it on other days of the week.”