Toowoomba Farmers Markets Moves into Town

Nearly a year ago, Toowoomba’s first ever genuine Farmers’ Market was held at “From Paddock to Potager’s” farm gate just behind Highfields. This inaugural event brought over 4,800 visitors! 

From there Toowoomba Farmers’ market was moved to the Toowoomba Showgrounds on a monthly basis and has seen a steady and loyal following of about 3,500 attendees per month. Customer feedback however proved that a more central location in town, more frequently, is what the public wanted. So, as of the 30^th April, TFM will be a fortnightly market held at a new venue in Toowoomba’s East, under the windmills at Cobb+Co Museum in Lindsay St.

From Paddock to Potager and Toowoomba Farmers’ Market together have become the leader in health and sustainability in the local agriculture sector within our community. Their aim is to make a change in habits and a change in mindset promoting the importance of wellbeing. Owner of both the Farm and Market, Fiona May states “It’s our objective to be more than a market. Our goal is for children to grow and learn about local food; that supporting local business, farmers and artisans is normal and sought after. It all begins with educating ourselves, no matter what the age, and passing these skills down to younger generations.”

“Talk with the person who grew your food. Get to know their story, their foods’ story. This is the person who knows the seasons, an artisan passionate about their methods, a farmer who loves their land, a grower who cares proudly for their stock. Make new relationships and connect, fortnight after fortnight. Season after season. Recipe after recipe.” Fiona May encourages.

TFM will be held on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month, at the new seasonal time of 8am to 1pm. This will allow consumers to reconnect with real food and producers whilst still having other commitments to attend.

As Fiona May says, “If you don’t have time to grow it yourself, support someone who does”.

The market partners with educational programs over at the farm ‘From Paddock to Potager’, just 15 minutes from Toowoomba CBD. Here people are developing their skills in animal husbandry, growing food, harvesting and then learning how to cook with the abundance of fresh seasonal food. These programs are supported by our local early childhood and school curriculums, after school learning and school holiday vocational groups – right up to the larger educational corporations including USQ, TAFE SW Qld and Cobb+Co Museum.