Maitland’s fresh food movement is connecting children with farmers and helping them learn where their food comes from.
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The Slow Food Earth Markets Maitland, which was known as Maitland Produce Market until earlier this month, hosted its first group of high school students on Thursday to help bridge the gap between city and country living.
About 40 Charlton Christian School year 9 geography students heard Slow Food Hunter Valley leader Amorelle Dempster reveal how the market started.
Then they heard from a few producers who spoke about their produce and the effort it takes to grow it, harvest it and make it ready to sell at the market.
Egg producer Sarah Sivyer spoke about her business Just Been Laid and how the eggs are prepared.
Earlier in the day the students visited Purple Pear Farm at Anambah where they saw a range of vegetables growing in a small space.
Deputy principal Alan Feeney said the excursion helped the students learn about biosecurity and gave them an insight into food production.
He said the markets showed the students how produce could be sold locally and help keep farmers on the land.