Farmers and Makers Market | Richmond, Tasmania

A few months back I wrote about the ever-growing number of fantastic markets available to us here in Tasmania.

It’s time we added another, and this time it’s local!

A double-edged sword to be sure. So convenient, yet so many calories are to be found at the Richmond Farmers and Makers Market! The region has long been renowned for its market gardens, orchards, wineries and colonial history, so its somewhat surprising its taken this long for the farmers and makers to unite.

The weather for the inaugural market could hardly have been worse! Gale force winds had trumped Mona’s plans for their first market of the year, and were also doing their utmost to uproot the tent army encamped around Richmond’s old town hall.

Richmond Farmers and Makers Market

Richmond Farmers and Makers Market

There were some great options out there for the hardy souls, ourselves included, that braved the elements.

I hadn’t had breakfast yet so the shiitake and brown mushroom pizza with fetta and truffle oil ($10) from ‘Wood Fired Pizza’ sounded like a pretty good idea.

Wood Fired Pizza

Wood Fired Pizza

Mushroom pizza

Mushroom pizza

Don't forget the truffle oil!

Don’t forget the truffle oil!

Oh my lordy…that pizza base…perfect crunch and just the slightest hint of charcoal from the oven. And then there were the toppings! Super fresh mushrooms, fetta with a little bit of bite and the decadence of the truffle oil made for one of the best pizzas I’ve tried anywhere, including our recent experience at Capital!

Are they simply called ‘Wood Fired Pizza’? Sounds odd to me. If anyone knows more about these guys I’d love to hear from you!

With a roast dinner in mind, we couldn’t resist picking up some carrots from one of the fruit and veg stores either. The quality was second to none.

Fresh fruit and veg!

Fresh fruit and veg!

The relishes and jams from The Richmond Jam Maker (another producer I hadn’t heard of previously) couldn’t be resisted either. While we didn’t make a purchase, we did enjoy a few tastings. The Seville orange marmalade in particular was very tasty, oddly conjuring images of G&Ts and other delicious cocktails in my mind. It’s never too early for cocktails right? These guys are looking to open up a shopfront in Richmond very, very soon so keep your eyes orange peeled!

The Richmond Jam Maker

The Richmond Jam Maker

The town hall itself offered some very welcome relief from the blustery conditions outside.

Inside the Town Hall (in one of its quieter moments)

Inside the Town Hall (in one of its quieter moments)

The disappointment was palpable when we realised we were going to have to taste the pork rillettes, duck liver parfait and home made water crackers from The Coterie. So disappointing that we were forced to buy some of the rillettes for later consumption.

The impending arrival of the Coal River Farm has many people both locally and in the tourism industry very excited. The second quarter of 2015 is likely for the grand opening, but until then we have to satisfy ourselves with tantalising hints of what’s to come, through markets such as this. I thought the caramelised hazelnuts were pretty good, until I tried their dark chocolate almond rocks!! We promptly purchased a bag full.

Coal River Farm

Coal River Farm

Coal Valley Farm

Coal River Farm

While food took centre stage, I loved spending a few minutes watching this potter at work, channelling Demi admirably…

Potter at work

Potter at work

Potter at work...to the strains of Unchained Melody...

Potter at work…to the strains of Unchained Melody…

We thought that was it for the indoor section, only to step outside and realise they had also utilised the surrounding buildings to house another dozen or so stallholders.

Waiting

Waiting

These guys were setting up just as we left

These guys were setting up just as we left

There was cheese, balloon-twisting clowns (a slight nod of the head the only sign of mutual recognition), alpaca wool, cherries and more cherries!

Again, we forced ourselves to purchase a small container full of the largest cherries I’ve ever seen in my life. Not overly sweet and full of flavour!

Lowdina Cherries!

Lowdina cherries and apricots!

Lowdina Cherries

Lowdina Cherries

All in all it was the perfect start to our lazy Saturday, and I can see many more to come!

The plan is for the markets to run every Saturday, from 9am through to 3pm. There’s plenty of parking, and the temperatures are always a couple of degrees warmer than in Hobart, so put it in your diary and see what it’s all about!

You’ll find more information on their Facebook page here, or their website here.