After more than a year and around 100 hours of volunteer effort, SAGE (Sustainable Agriculture and Gardening Eurobodalla) has released a report it says shows the local economic development impacts of its successful farmers market.
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The bottom line of the SAGE Farmers Market Economic Impact Study 2014-2015 is taking most by surprise, but not the market committee and chairman Stuart Whitelaw.
"The market's managing committee knew that the market was generating serious economic activity. We could see that it was making a big difference to the lives of people growing food around here," Mr Whitelaw said. "When you talk to some councillors or read important policy shaping documents published by council, the local food economy just isn’t on their radar as a serious consideration.
“SAGE is working hard on a number of fronts to change that, but we needed something that could quantify the impact of growing and selling food locally. We needed to be able to speak the language of policy makers.”
After surveying customers at four markets over 12 months, it was revealed that shoppers spend $1,769,000 annually at the SAGE Farmers Market. Additionally, customers were asked if they intended to shop elsewhere in Moruya that day.
Almost 75 per cent of shoppers indicated they also shopped elsewhere, spending $1,459,000 annually. The study also obtained qualitative data from businesses in Moruya, with almost 70 per cent of survey responses indicating they believed the market has a positive impact.
The SAGE Farmers Market adheres to the best practice guidelines of the Australian Farmers' Markets Association, requiring each stall holder is inspected so customers can be confident that what they are buying is grown, harvested or made by the person they’re buying it from.
"The Moruya SAGE Farmers Market is a shining example of the immense power of authentic well-managed farmers markets to grow local economies, and showcase regional agriculture and food production,” said Jane Adams, spokesperson for the Australian Farmers' Markets Association, adding that other markets would use the study data. The full report is available for download or email markets@sageproject.org.au