Locally-sourced produce within a 50-mile radius of Morwell will soon be on offer each month as community groups set out to reactivate the town.
The first 50 Mile Farmers Market will set up shop on Morwell’s Tarwin Street on Saturday, 11 April with the help of Latrobe Valley sisters Liz Young and Sue Gill.
The local workers were approached by ReActivate Latrobe Valley to organise the pilot market, and have since been busy contacting local shires and researching potential stall-holders.
“It was initially to bring something more to the town,” Liz said.
“I suppose we thought we could bring our business knowledge to help initiate the whole plan.”
The preparation has involved volunteering hours of their time to eliminate producers outside of the 50-mile zone and contact eligible producers to obtain interest.
There could be about 30 stalls lining Tarwin Street for the first market, with 10 applications already submitted and another 20 in the process.
The sisters have also organised a fun walk on the day, with the idea to bring more people into the town centre.
“It’s to encourage people to see what a farmers market has to offer,” Liz said
“It is local produce, it’s within the 50-mile radius and it’s to see what people are producing in the area of Latrobe Valley and Morwell.”
Although the pair admit the organisation has been difficult, they plan on sticking with the market as it becomes a regular event.
“I believe the whole idea is to get people into the town and spend their money within the town,” Sue said.
“We just want it to happen.”
ReActivate Latrobe Valley has organised insurance and road closure permits, while Morwell Rotary Club members will run traffic control and a sausage sizzle on the day.
ReActivate co-director Rosalea Monacella said the Morwell market would set the standard for other town centres, whose 50-mile farmers markets were in the pipeline.
“It aims to profile local producers or farmers, providing fresh, healthy food for the community,” Ms Monacella said.
“The aim is to have a network of these small 50-mile markets happening throughout Latrobe Valley on different weekends.”
Stalls will open from 8am until 1pm on Saturday, 11 April while the fun walk will start at 9am from Legacy Place.
