Local Markets
These days you can usually find local markets like craft markets, farmers markets or flea markets near where you live. Many vendors have their stalls as their main income and others see market participation as a hobby.
Supporting local small business
There are many markets in the Western Cape. You can visit a local market. You can also visit local markets or pop up markets in communities all over the country. This goes a long way to helping local small business and supporting local farmers. Buying goods from market vendors helps keep money in the community. Supporting market vendors as some of the smallest businesses helps sustain the well-being of communities generally.
Sustainable living
While supporting farmers’ markets can help promote food stability in a community, flea markets selling second-hand goods help with sustainable living too. Flea markets are an antidote to conspicuous consumption of goods. Many vendors get involved in updating items by repairing painting or generally refurbishing items such as furniture and clothing. This sustainable living has become trendy and is based on the reuse of all kinds of items.
Second-hand items are often interesting, unique and less expensive than new goods from big box stores.
Flea markets
Here many vendors gather to sell goods both new and used. They can be either outdoors or held in large indoor venues. Outdoor markets and Street markets are often seasonal. They can be formal or casual. The markets can be held weekly, monthly or daily. Local markets are well worth visiting as they can be creative and inspiring and you can usually find delicious street food for sale too.
Craft Markets
At craft markets, you will find arts and crafts generally hand-made by the vendors themselves.
Arts and craft markets will usually include paintings and sculpture, jewellery, textile crafts, handmade soaps and cosmetics and foodstuffs.
Farmers markets.
There are a lot of good reasons to support local farmer’s markets. The prices of the goods are usually favourably comparable to produce found in supermarkets. The produce is seasonal and sold at the peak of the growing season rather than picked early and refrigerated for long periods. It will be fresh. It is likely to be organically grown. There will probably be fewer pesticides used here than used in large-scale farming operations. Organically grown fresh food is more nutritious than factory farmed produce
Locally grown food therefore will be fresher and healthier and supporting small farmers will benefit the community by keeping the money in the community and helping ensure local food security.
Buying locally grown food also reduces the carbon footprint as the food does not have to be transported over long distances.
Farmers markets also often include stalls where people sell delicious artisan breads and bakes and hearty meals. This makes regular visits to local farmers markets really.
Find local markets in the Western Cape in the Colourdots listings