Slow Food Earth Market Maitland selling Tilse apples for $4 a kg

The apples were previously sold for $2.50 a kg and will now be sold for $4 a kg, with $3.50 going directly into the farmer's pocket and the extra 50 cents going to Slow Food Hunter Valley.

The increase comes after the not-for-profit group learned that the farmer, Steve Tilse, was not making a profit when he agreed to sell the apples for $2.50 a kg.

Maitland Earth Market chairwoman Amorelle Dempster asked the city how much they were prepared to pay for local apples and the responses on social media flowed.

Shoppers agreed $4 was a fair price and some were even prepared to pay more to eat local fruit.

Read more: paying to keep small farmers in business

It actually costs Mr Tilse $3 a kg to pick and transport the apples to the market in The Levee, so now he will make 50 cents profit per kilogram. 

Slow Food Hunter Valley will use its share of the money to improve the earth market. 

Red Delicious and Granny Smith apples will be for sale at the market in The Levee between 12.30pm and 5pm today, or until sold out.

Maitland CWA ladies Barbara Heckman and Sue Morphett will offer an apple crumble demonstration - and tastings, at the Slow Food tent at 2pm. 

Slow Food Hunter Valley also has a hot vegetable korma for sale. 

There will also be a range of produce including:

🍆 Rockmelons, pumpkins, beans, zucchini, beetroot, eggplant, kohlrabi, silverbeet, kale, and corn from MC & SL Dennis 

🌽 Chemical free corn, watermelon, potkins, pumpkins, cucumber, radish, turnip, and coriander from Phoenix Park Farm

🥒 Crystal, green and Armenian cucumbers, watermelon, gramma pumpkins, plus more pumpkins from Austin and Laurel Breiner 

🌶 Sweet potato, green papaya, okra, luffa, sweet potato leaves, jute plant, lemongrass, chilli, Thai basil, and mint from Felicia's Homegrown Veggies

🍈 Olives and olive oil from Wine Country Olives

🌰 Black garlic and turmeric infused cold smoked garlic from Bellbird Garlic

💐 Fresh flowers, salad mix, microgreens, and garlic from Four Acre Farm

🥚 Pastured eggs from Kapsali Farm

🌱 Herbs, turmeric, honey vinegar, and triple lemon tea from Within Radius

🍯 Eggs, honey, and beetroot pickle from Lorn Grower

🥫 Jams and chutneys by Noelene

🥚 Eggs by Angela

🍞 Bread and pastries from Fosterton Biodynamic Farm

🌱 Biodynamic greens from Purple Pear Farm

Click here for more details.