The first farmers’ market in the Mushroom Valley will be opening to the public for the very first time this week, with an estimated 200,000 people expected to attend.
The event will take place on Saturday morning at the Cenotaph, with the farmers selling all sorts of items, including bread, eggs, sausage, butter and fresh fruit and vegetables.
It is the first farmers market in Brisbane’s Mushroom Valley.
The Cenotech, the site where the Mushroom and Mushroom Valley Farmers Market was originally held, is also expected to be open to the general public for sale.
The market is set to be the first of its kind in Queensland.
It was created after farmers and businesses in the area decided they could no longer produce enough for the market to cover, and the Censorship Council was set up in 2014.
The farmers and food producers in the region have long complained about what they perceive to be a lack of competition in the marketplace, with some claiming the market has failed to generate enough revenue to survive.
Mr Burdick, from the Queensland Government’s Agriculture and Forestry Committee, said it was “extremely positive” that the first market would be taking place in the “magical” Mushroom Valley, which has been in existence since the 18th century.
“It’s fantastic for the area, it’s great for Queensland, it makes us a bit more aware of what is going on in the community, what’s going on for our food security,” he said.
“We need to get people to the farmers market because we need to see what they’re doing, and it’s an opportunity to get out there and meet them and make them feel welcome.”
Farmers will also be able to purchase a selection of produce and artisan products from local and national suppliers, as well as buy a range of goods at an annual farmers market.
“I’m very proud of what we’ve achieved here in Queensland, but I’m also a little bit concerned about what’s happening elsewhere,” Mr Burt said.