Casino is about to get fresh with its own weekly farmers market.

John and Frieda De Kleuver are organising the market for the Casino Lions Club.

The plan is to hold a market every Saturday morning at Crawford Square in South Casino, starting in September.

The De Kleuvers run Southview Orchard on Hogarth Range and during peach season go to seven different markets every week.

“We’ve been selling peaches at farmers markets for seven years,” Frieda said.

They’ve seen how Kyogle, Lismore, Ballina, Murwillumbah, Yamba, Grafton and Nimbin markets operate.

“We had nowhere for our peaches in Casino,” Frieda said.

“I thought, how come Casino doesn’t have a market?”

That was six months ago and plans for a Casino market have developed towards the planned first market on Saturday, September 4.

“We think the town needs it,” John said.

“We’re not making any money out of it. Any money goes to the Lions.”

The couple have secured a coffee cart, duck and quail eggs, have plenty of offers for buskers and are still looking for a flower grower to join them.

The most important thing is stallholders, John said.

“We want as much seasonal produce as possible. Mangoes, peaches and blueberries are coming in soon.”

The market is for “genuine farmers”, he said.

They will accept value-added products such as jams but were clear it is not a craft market.

Think fresh, local food and make the market part of your regular weekly shopping.

The Lions Club will put on a sausage sizzle at the first market.

After that, the plan is to rotate the barbecue every week between schools and other community groups. The only other known Lions Club farmers market is in Bathurst.

To market, to market

• Kyogle Farmers Market on Stratheden St every Saturday, 8am–1pm
• Evans Head Farmers Market is next to the surf club on Fridays, 3–6pm
• Casino Lions Farmers Market plans to hold its first market on Saturday, September 4, 8am–noon. Interested stallholders can call John and Frieda on 0498 001 257 or email lionscfm@gmail.com

This article appeared in the Richmond River Independent, 14 July 2021.