Photos from Eveleigh Market, Sydney

Helen Hill an achacha grower in Australia, visits many markets and farmers markets to promote the exotic fruit. She will be sending FreshPlaza a few reports for our Australia and New Zealand Special this month.

Helen Hill: Eveleigh Market, Sydney is my personal favourite as it is covered, held weekly, and located in the historic precinct of the old railway maintenance sheds which have been transformed into a buzzing cultural centre. There are rehearsal rooms for theatrical groups, a theatre, an aboriginal centre, art gallery, cafes, function spaces and of course the weekly farmer's market which attracts around 4,000 visitors in the four trading hours. A couple of Sydney's favourite chefs have food stalls and there are fresh juices, coffee wagons, other breakfast specialities and of course lots of fruit and vegetables and niche food products. It's a great friend meeting place to socialise and shop. The other reason I like it is because it attracts lots of food journalists and travelling film crews.

A couple of weeks ago the market was visited by an Indian TV crew, none seems to be very sure why they were there but they seemed interested in the achacha fruit.

This season we've attended on average seven farmer's markets per week. From Townsville, to Mackay, Maitland, Sydney (4-7 markets per week), in Brisbane, Canberra and Melbourne. We find it a very good way to have personal contact with people who are normally pretty switched on food wise. It enables us to give new people a taste, show them the opening method, explain how to make the healthy drink from the achacha skins and answer any questions. We often have very long discussions and learn lots too.