Friday, April 27, 2012

Castle Hill Farmers Market, Castle Hill

It's probably only since I started this blog that I really got "into" Farmer's Markets - really appreciated what they are about. In the past I've enjoyed visiting markets like Paddy's to pick up a few bits and pieces for my dinner (and a cheap handbag along the way), but I wasn't really into, nor did I understand the essence of the Farmers Market.  The fact that farm fresh produce is being brought to the Big Smoke for us city slickers to enjoy - STRAIGHT FROM THE FARM. Often by "real farmers" who wear boots and they big, broad-rimmed hats.


I really enjoyed my visit to Eveleigh Farmers Market last year, and The Boy and I often find ourselves at Orange Grove on a Saturday picking up fresh fruit, vegies and of course my beloved free range meat.  The markets are such a great way to disengage from city life and "get real" for an hour or two. It's a chance to ask questions about the produce if you want to, rather than blindly filling up the trolley at the supermarket without any knowledge about the provenance of your haul.


The only thing is, Eveleigh and Orange Grove are a bit of schlep for Parramatta so we don't go as often as I'd like - battling Saturday morning traffic is never fun.   So imagine how excited I was to find out that there was a VERY GOOD Farmers Market only 15 minutes up the road from Parramatta (I was beside myself, just for the record).  It only took 18 months of living out here to realise that these markets even existed.


The Castle Hill Markets are held on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month - you'll find them at the Castle Hill Showground.  The first market of the month seems to be the bigger of the two - but they are both equally as good.


As with a visit to any Farmers Market you really need to start with brunch.  Cappuccinos along with Bacon and Egg Rolls seem to be the order of the day for most people, but I'm quite taken by the Spinach and Ricotta Roll.  It's good, firm filling with a lovely flaky pastry.


The Boy is really excited to try a Buffalo Sausage Roll - made with Buffalo meat from a herd that resides in the Blue Mountains.  The stall also sell Buffalo Mozzarella and they're doing a roaring trade in Buffalo Gelato (that I HAVE to try next time).  We chat to the stall holder who tells us about her herd of 22 Buffalo (all free roaming of course).  You can tell she's really passionate about what she does as she's holding back tears telling us about a Buffalo they lost during the week - along with her two unborn calves.


The Boy makes a beeline for the Duck stall - fixated on nabbing some Duck Sausages (we try a sample or two and they are REALLY good).


We also visit the Trunkey Bacon and Pork stall. These guys come down from their farm in Trunkey (up near Orange) for each and every market.  I have a chat to the owner who tells me that the pork is barn-raised, rather than free range.  He tells me their pigs are are of the "pink skinned" variety who don't do so well free-range as they get sunburnt if they don't have a wallow to...wallow in (unlike Berkshire Blacks who can hack the sunshine a bit better).  The Trunkey pigs are shipped to an abattoir in Orange and then come back to the farm where they do all their own butchering.  Trunkey don't use gestation stalls on their farm so The Boy and I decide we'll buy some porky goodies.  I have no idea if this is an ethically sound decision or not, but I've read a bit about Barn Raised pigs and I feel "OK" about it.


Whilst we're feeling meaty we head over to the guys from The Free Range Butchers and snag some snags (grass-fed).  We've bought free range chicken from these guys before and it's great produce. They also have a store in Pennant Hills if you're so inclined to visit them there.  The guys are the stall are the butchers from the Pennant Hills shops - they are cheeky and love to engage in a bit of banter with their customers, just like the butchers shops I grew up going to.


The eggs are from a free-range farm in Terry Hills - laid on Thursday and at the markets on Saturday.  If you're not convinced about why you should buy free-range eggs, or why you should spend a bit more on them, have a quick squizz at this campaign that Missy Higgins is involved in - when you see the squalid and appallingly cruel conditions battery hens are kept in I hope you'll soon opt for free-range. No animal should live a life of such misery - it really should be illegal here just like it is in the European Union.  AND free-range eggs just taste better. They have a vibrant yellow yolk that holds together really well in cooking due to a thicker membrane.


We also stock up on some veggies and a bit of fruit to help balance out all that meat. All of the sellers as Castle Hill are identified as a Genuine Grower, Genuine Producer or Resellers - so you know if you're talking directly with a farmer or a reseller.  I think it's a nice touch.


And if you feel like "growing your own" there's a stall with an outstanding number of seedlings on offer.  I recently planed my very first balcony garden so I was really interested to see what was on offer here - but not the Brussel Spouts, they won't be coming home with me.

I also picked a few spices for some homemade pickled veggies that I attempted - which didn't turn out too badly if I do say so myself (except for my executive decisions to use Fennel Seeds when I couldn't find Dill Seeds).


All this food shopping is thirsty work...


Farmers Markets give us an option to turn out backs on the big two supermarkets (you know who I mean) who are screwing our farmers into the very ground they are trying to make their livings from.  That super cheap milk that you see on the shelves of Coles and Woolies is NOT a good thing. It's a price war that's all about gaining market share, and our dairy farmers are losing out...selling their product for less than it's worth. How can anyone make a living like that?  Pretty soon those dairy farmers are going to go out of business, walk off their farms and we'll be left drinking imported milk from countries where we have no say about, no influence, about the animal welfare practices that go into making that milk. First it was milk, then bread, and now "The Big Two" have fruit and veggies in their sights.

Castle Hill Farmers Market
is on at the Castle Hill Showground Castle Hill, enter via Carrington Road. The markets are on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month.

38 comments:

  1. I do love a good farmers market, and this one looks like a beauty!

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    1. It's great John, it's nice to have something great so close to home.

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  2. You have inspired me to check out the Farmers Markets! I might head down to Eveleigh tomorrow.

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    1. Eveleigh is GREAT. I love how it is all undercover - great for a rainy day.

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  3. Farmers markets are the best! I try and visit the KX one every Saturday.

    You definitely have to try some buffalo gelato on my behalf. Is it gelato using buffalo milk or gelato that tastes like buffalo? :p

    --xo

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    1. The gelato is made using milk for the buffalo heard up in the Blue Mountains...the queue was SO long today that I'll have to try it next time.

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  4. That tray of figs looks SO great!! I adore a good farmers market.

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    1. Me too! And there are SO many in Sydney.

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  5. I buy as much as I can direct from the grower. The more we can do that, the more farmers that can stay in the business of growing our food.

    Love your market photos!

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    1. I'm with you! Buy from the markets...not the supermarkets.

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  6. Oh I think I would run away with that delicious tray of figs-so reasonably priced too! :)

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  7. Great work Miss Piggy, what a good find so close to your house! This all looks amazing, especially that tray of figs! As farmers ourselves we also love a Farmers Market, it is a fun way to connect with people, talk about food and of course...eat! Oh...and duck sausages, yum.

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    1. The markets are great - a great way for city folk to actaully connect with the people that grow their food. It's a real treat for us that's for sure.

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  8. What a great find and such beautiful photos. That tray of figs was such an amazing deal! Such a great range of producers too.

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    1. I wish I knew what to do with a tray of figs though! Clueless.

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  9. Love it, Mel! EPIC Farmer's Markets is just five minutes from our place too. What a wonderful thing to have so close to home. I am happy to feature a couple of your favourite stall holders on my market people page if you would like to send me pics and a para (mini guest post). Love your work!

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    1. Hi Lizzie, I've not spoken to any of the stallholders other than to ask some questions about the produce...interviewing is a tad out of my comfort zone. I'll see if I ever get brave one day.

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  10. I want to see your balcony garden ;). I love how markets are so close! I'm near prahran markets and love getting fresh produce and meat.

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    1. Yo! I have a few pictures posted to twitter but I might do a blog post soon (though the grubs are eating my 'crop' faster than it's growing...grrrr)!

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  11. Glad to hear you finally found a farmers markets in your area. I'm with you, buying your produce directly from the farmers is the way to go.

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    1. We are lucky that's for sure! I love my Saturday's up at Castle Hill now.

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  12. I buy all my meat from the Free Range Butcher at their Orange Grove Markets stall. They seem likely a friendly bunch and seem to produce good quality free range meat, every different cut available and at decent prices. They are the only people in Sydney who I've found have got all three right (in my opinion).

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    1. The Free Range Butcher is GREAT! Their retail shop is not too far from our suburb so we need to pay them a visit now.

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  13. Good one. Meats looked inviting. Buffalo wings yes,but never gelato! Ha ha,I live in the wild wild west too..very apt with the guns blazing so often now. Have u heard if the art fair in castle hill show grounds has reopened? Ta

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    1. The meat is great! I think the Buffalo gelato would be great, quite creamy. The sausage roll was OMG good. Not heard about the art fair though - shall keep my ears to the ground (or internet).

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  14. I love Farmers Markets and if travel out of the CBD were on the cards for me, I would definitely love to try those buffalo sausages, but Eveleigh will have to just be the ones for me. Talking to stallholders about their produce is great, I've been learning so much about different recipes and cooking ideas.
    Enjoy!

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    1. Eveleigh is a GREAT market...and it's undercover which is GREAT. AND you have Pepesaya Butter & Country Valley milk there...lucky gal.

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  15. great post, love what you've done with the shots.

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    1. Thank you! Picasa has some funky settings to spruce up photos now...it helps make slightly dodgy photos look kinda cool.

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  16. how did i only just discover your blog????????????????????? LOVE x

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  17. Ooh my bff lives right near here. Must attend soon :D

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    1. Do it, and make sure you get the Iced-coffee. Really good!

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  18. Long time reader, first time commenter :-)
    Great review, thank you!! Im at these markets most weeks and I love it!! My favourite stalls are the egg man, the goats cheese man (on the right when you walk into the pavillion) and the bread lady (on the left when you walk into the pavillion)

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    1. Hi Carly, thanks SO much for your comment! I'm always shocked when somebody I don't know reads my blog. I agree - these markets are GREAT! I'd be hard pressed to pick a favourite stall - though the Free-Range Butchers get my vote for personality...funny guys that they are.

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  19. oooooo I've been looking for a farmers market close by! Ima check this one out.

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  20. Love farmers' markets. Thanks for the rundown on the Castle Hill ones, they look fantastic. If I live closer would make them my own. Eveleigh and Pyrmont are my go toos, still a little away from where we live, but is worth it for variety.

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  21. Me too love markets and farmers markets. The goods looked wonderful and Iam all for supporting small business (me being one of them), but the prices were a bit out there for my liking at Castle Hill Farmers Markets. Did you know there is a Farmers Market in Parramatta every Thursday & Saturday

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