Saturday morning market

Saturday Morning Market

On Saturday the 6^h of April we are starting a Calitzdorp Saturday Morning Market.    The Market will be every Saturday from 8am to 12noon  and will be held in Fourie Street which is between the Church and Omar’s new shop.

Fourie street is Church property and we would not be able to start this project without the blessing and support of the Church.   Particular thanks to Dominee Gerhard and the Church Council for welcoming our proposal.

The main purpose of  the market is to sell local fresh produce and good local food at the best possible prices.

Buying and selling locally is not a new idea but with petrol ever more expensive, local trade makes sense.

Mostly  our weather is glorious and Saturday market mornings can become a good shopping experience.

Not everyone enjoys selling or has the time to spare.   We  invite anyone with a surplus of  fruit, vegetable, herbs or seedlings to bring their produce to the market before 8am for us to sell on your behalf.  We will charge 20% of the selling price.

Stalls at the market are available but must be booked by Friday.   We will charge 10% of nett sales for a stall.

Stalls must be reserved before Saturday morning and it will not be possible to pitch up and get a stall.  

This is how we hope it will work.  Let’s say you have more lemons, onions ,tomatoes or anything delicious than you can use.   You may put as much as you feel you want to sell in boxes and bring them to the market before 8am.  Please have a price in mind.   Money and unsold produce will need to be collected between 12 and 1.

Many of us enjoy giving away our surplus.   There is no doubt that is generous and good but if you offer your surpluss for sale at an attractive price you offer people the dignity of choice.  Money raised from the sale of extra veggies or fruit can always be donated to the Church or other deserving cause.

It is estimated that there is enough food to feed all 7 billionish of us, the problem is distribution.   Getting enough good food to everyone is tricky.  In some ways we have a mini version of the world dilemma.   We are a small community in a food producing area.  With support from the whole community we could bridge the gap between the large scale farmer and the home veggie gardener to create an inclusive, co-operative, sustainable market.

For the Farmers and big scale producers who have no time to sit at a market stall on Saturday,  please support and mentor someone to bring some of your produce to the local market.  Please encourage young people who stand to learn some beginner business skills.   If any farmers have staff who grow vegetables, please help and encourage their participation in the market. 

To the person with a tiny veggie patch.  Even two bunches of onions may be just what someone else wants.  We will sell them for you with pleasure.  

To the green fingered  people of Calitzdorp, please grow seedlings.   Small trays of  vegetable seedlings are sure to sell.       Please get planting if that is your  talent.

To Sum Up

Two ways to sell at the market:

1)       Drop off your produce before 8am the market table for us to sell for you. - charge 20% of  selling price

2)       Hire a stall - which must be booked by Friday. - charge 10% of  sales

Pitch up with produce for us to sell.  Book in advance if you want to sell your own.

We have a small number of trestle tables for hire at R20 per morning which can be booked when reserving a stall. Or you may bring your own.

The 10% charge for stallholders is on a trust basis.

We would like to sell

Fresh Vegetables and Fruit

Dried Fruit

Vegetable seedlings

Fresh herbs and seedlings and plants

Home baked bread and other delights

Indigenous Plants

Collectables

Second Hand Books

Household stuff in good condition - second hand

Clothes in good condition - second hand

Lastly and most importantly we would like the market to serve every person in our lovely town and make food shopping fun.

Judy Smorenburg 

Meisie Arnold

Marina Murris