Eat Local to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint!

With consumers across the world becoming increasingly concerned about climate change and the threats that poses to their environment, there’s an increased push to consider not just what we eat but also where it comes from. And buying locally grown and sourced food (even if it’s just a portion of your weekly grocery shop) holds many benefits for both the environment and your health.

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Locally grown food creates critical economic opportunities for our local community, provides health benefits and helps to reduce environmental impact. It also helps bring the community to come together and gives people the chance to make a difference.

In Newcastle (and Lake Macquarie), we’re fortunate to have two local food suppliers that enable us to buy great food – and make a difference!

Newcastle Farmers Market (held every Sunday at Broadmeadow) and Lake Macquarie Farmers Market (at Speers Point Park on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month) enable you to buy groceries directly from the farmer – from the person who grew, nurtured and made the product. At the farmers market, you not only get to meet the producer, but you can also ask about how and where it’s grown or made, and how best to store or use it.

It’s an experience that cannot be replicated, with farmers tending to their crops and timing their harvests to ensure your produce is as fresh as can be on the day you purchase it.

A regular at ‘The Farmers’ is our local Commercial Fisherman’s Cooperative, who you’ll also find at Wickham and Swansea. Here you’ll find sustainably caught, fresh local seafood. The “Co-Op” was formed over 75 years ago to service the needs of local commercial fishers by way of providing fuel, ice, gas, cold storage, mooring facilities, transport and the marketing of the daily catch of seafood either locally or in Sydney.

There are currently 130 shareholder members who work independently in their fishing businesses, either in the estuaries or on their fish/prawn trawlers, depending on their individual endorsements. They’re all providing the freshest of freshest local seafood to the Co-Op 365 days a year!

Why not cook up a tasty treat for your family this weekend utilising local produce from both the markets and the Coop. You’ll find everything you need from the Fishermans Co-op, Wollombi Olive Oil, Tilligerry Organic Produce and Ourimbah Orchards (all found at the markets).

For upcoming Farmers Market dates, visit www.newcastlecityfarmersmarket.com.au or www.lakemacquariecityfarmersmarket.com.au, and for opening hours at the Fisherman's Co-Op, visit www.fishcoop.com.au

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Seafood Skewers

INGREDIENTS

• For the skewers – assorted seafood (salmon chunks, octopus, scallops, prawns), capsicum (sliced into large pieces), zucchini (thickly sliced).

• For the dressing – fresh olive oil, garlic, coriander seeds, wholegrain mustard, fresh tarragon, and lemons.

METHOD

• Soak wooden skewers in water.

• Combine the olive oil, garlic, coriander seeds, mustard and tarragon with a splash of lemon juice and let sit for 30 minutes.

• Thread the seafood onto the skewers and cook on the barbecue or the grill, about three to four minutes on each side and drizzle with the dressing when served.

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