Clevedon Farmers Market

One of the best things about living in Maraetai is the close proximity to The Clevedon Farmers Market, and you may not think a 20 minute journey down the road qualifies as an ‘adventure‘ but I believe anything that gets you out and about … is most definitely an adventure.

It’s a farmers market held at pony club, so leave your good shoes at home and remember to bring your eco bag or basket. The Clevedon Farmers Market is more of an old chucks, jandals kind of occasion rather than a chance to bust out your brand new white shoes. In fact being mostly shingle, I’d just steer away from sandals. I use the market as breakfast outing combined with a wee bit of grocery shopping, you know two birds one stone… it’s packed with ridiculously good food and produce,as well as brilliant international cuisine and sweet treats.

The market runs Sundays from 8:30am until 1pm, and just to be tricky there are two markets in Clevedon. The Clevedon Village Market is located in centre of the town on North Road, and is more arts and craft based while the Farmers Market is on Monument Drive at the Showgrounds and is more local produce and food based. It pays not to get the two confused, if you’re expecting a farmers market you will most definitely be disappointed by the village market.

Being a severe coffee addict, I always have a coffee before I leave the house, that way I have the patience to line up for a second one once there. Rest assured though, the coffee is good and well worth lining up for, but if coffee isn’t your thing there are plenty of other options. However, no two weekends are the same, because of seasonality and smaller quantities produced you won’t see exactly the same stallholders month after month.

It’s way more than just a grocery stop though, it’s a social outing with live music and rustic seating, paired with a culinary wonderland of wood fired pizzas, fresh juices, herbal teas, buffalo mozzarella and yogurt, fresh breads, brownies, organic meat, and my absolute favourite Argentinian alfajor… but that’s just the tip of the iceberg, there are seedlings, fresh flowers and more.

We take the fur children, our dogs, to the markets because its pooch friendly and to be honest you’d feel pretty left out if you didn’t take a dog. The next best thing to taking a dog, is patting all the dogs, to match the amazing array of food there’s an equally amazing array of dogs, some even dressed for the occasion.

I like to impress house guests with a trip to markets, almost like a hunting and gathering expedition and from the markets find a nice wee spot for a picnic. Clevedon is just a stones throw from some great wee spots and unless it’s raining any weather is picnic weather if you rug up enough.

I realise I’m shooting myself in the foot by singing the praises of the market, the coffee line will get longer and the carpark will get fuller if everyone else realises how brilliant the markets are. It’s a risk I’m willing to take. I’m not a market hog.

If you haven’t been to the Clevedon Farmers Market and you’re in Auckland then you should. I never thought I’d be a Farmers Market, jute tote bag carrying Aucklander and yet here I am!