Exciting news

A Big Sunday Market 25th August 10am-2pm for University Open day, Inveresk campus, Launceston. There will be a fruit and vegetable share market, the Great Seed and Seedling giveaway and lots of great activties on the day. We need help from everyone, artists and musicians,  growers, collectors for seed collection and seedling growth………

We are applying for a Community Food Grant and we need you help. Here are the details Lettter, proposal and planned events. Please spread the facebook page, website and fruit tree map far and wide to show community support. If you are keen to endorse the project through you business, Council or organisation then please put this on letter head and send it through. We also need plenty of donations in cash of in kind support.

Check out this great article in the  Examiner on Friday last week, a great colour feature article about fruit foraging and the share market

Hope to see you tomorrow and every Monday 12 noon to share your art, fruit, vegetables, edible plants and baked goods!

Is foraging illegal in Tasmania?

The Launceston City Council is suggesting foraging is an illegal activity! If you know anyone who would know better I would love to speak to them.  We received the following from the Launceston City Council today, only one more meeting about the location, till we can definitely say we will be there on the 17th June 12 noon
1. the State Health Department to confirms that under the Tasmanian Food Act 2003 our market does not meet the definition of food business or food for sale and therefore there are no requirements by Council.
2. DONATE&SHARE We need to just place the foods on the table for give away and no bartering takes place, we can continue along as we are!
3. FOOD SAFETY: be mindful of the high risk foods and duty of care to ensure the food is safe for consumption (food safety and allergens)
4. FORAGING: the legality is still being debated
Thank you for you kind support, without all your emails, facebook messages and phone calls this would not have happened! I will keep you updated
Bridgette

Good & Bad news

Sorry a little BAD news, we have grown so big and attracted the attention of the COUNCIL and FOOD INSPECTOR. This was not because there were any problems with the food but we were in the newspaper and attracted their attention. They are keen to support our project but we need to make a few immediate changes:
-we share and give away food, it is not a swap and exchange
-fruit and vegetables need to be whole, labelled and registered, we will provide labels and a registration system at the next market in 2 weeks
-no baked or cooked food can be accepted until further notice (sorry), that means no soup until we find a commercial kitchen
-foraging for food on public land may be an illegal activity, we are currently obtaining advice about this and can not support this activity until we know it is legal.
Please support us through this difficult time, we want to keep this going but we need to make sure everything is legal and complies to council law.
GOOD news, the next fruit and vegetable share is 17th June please come along and support this great project!
Cheers
Bridegtte

12noon Monday 1st BIG Share market

Thank you for everyone’s great support last week, there was a fantastic turn out. The Examiner was there so we will have to wait and see what happens. This Monday we will be sharing more fruit and vegetables, all are welcome and it is free

Examiner Article

The Examiner Newspaper printed this great article about Urban Farming Tasmania and the Monday Fresh Food Market. They intend to come back next Monday for the full experience, from foraging for fruit yesterday to sharing the fruit with the community on Monday. If you can make it next week that would be fantastic 12 noon College of the Arts, bring your produce, friends and family. Matthew Dames is playing music, we promise there will be lots of food and just your presence is a great exchange