S2 E13 Food Security - Local Food and Farmers Markets

In today’s episode I am talking to Chris Hain and Mel Willard about Food Security.  Chris is the President of the Victorian Farmers Market Association and market manager at both Bendigo and Castlemaine markets. Mel is one half of Gung Hoe growers, with her partner in crime Sas Allardice.  Gung Hoe Growers is the vegetable growing arm of the Harcourt Organic Farming Cooperative.  I spoke to these guys in depth in 2018 in episode six of season one, it is one of my favourite episodes of that season, so I recommend you also listen to that: 

https://saltgrass.podbean.com/e/gung-hoe-growers/

 

Food security as a topic has been on the cards in terms of climate change since people first started thinking about it... but it has come up, as so many climate change related topics have, during this time of the corona virus with people panic buying seedlings, seeds and potting mix.

 

Links:

 

Victorian Farmers Market Association

https://www.vfma.org.au/

 

Castlemaine Farmers Market

http://castlemainefarmersmarket.org/

 

Bendigo Community Farmers Market

http://www.bcfm.org.au/about/

 

Harcourt Organic Farming Cooperative

https://www.mafg.com.au/hofc

 

Gung Hoe Growers

https://www.facebook.com/gunghoegrowers/

 

Gung Hoe interview from 2018

https://saltgrass.podbean.com/e/gung-hoe-growers/

 

Another interview from 2018 with Katie and Ant – about organics and the importants of supporting local growers.

https://saltgrass.podbean.com/e/mount-alexander-fruit-garden/

 

 

Further information about how the virus is impacting food security elsewhere in Australia:

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-28/nt-food-security-amid-covid-19-pandemic/12092424

https://www.theguardian.com/global/commentisfree/2020/mar/19/dont-panic-australia-the-coronavirus-doesnt-mean-well-run-out-of-food