Farmers’ markets are springing up everywhere, creating a natural spectacle of vibrant colours and smells and sounds around them. The fish is as fresh as the sea spray, the fruit and vegetables were harvested last night, and most of the goods are organic. This is not just a shopping experience; it is a great social event for all with live music at many of these venues while many serve breakfast and lunch and most feature delis that sell really delightful foods. Did I mention the smell of freshly baked bread, steam rising as it’s taken from the oven? It’s all there – and it’s just great!

MARKETS IN AND AROUND CAPE TOWN

The Neighbourgoods Market at the Old Biscuit Mill on Saturdays from 9am – 2pm and Sundays from 10am to 3pm. Porter Estate Produce Market, in Constantia Valley on Saturday mornings. Observatory Night Market on Thursday evenings in the community centre. The Elgin Valley Market on the N2 at Grabouw, the Hermanuspietersfontein Food & Wine Market in the Hemelen- Aarde Village and, also in Hermanus, in the beautiful Fernkloof Nature Reserve is the Fernkloof Market (on Saturdays). Then there’s the Prince Albert Saturday Market, as well as the Harvest Time Farmers’ Market halfway between Knysna and Plettenberg Bay, and the Wild Oats Market in Sedgefield.

KWAZULU-NATAL
Pietermaritzburg Farmers’ Market and the Shongweni Farmers’ Market, and the Karkloof Market, a lovely fresh produce market outside Howick.

IN AND AROUND GAUTENG
The Bryanston Organic Market – a great market, and one of the first markets to go organic and green and was established as early as 1976. There’s also alternative healing and medicines on offer. Another great market is Irene Village Market outside Jan Smuts’s house on the outskirts of the village, held on the second and last Saturday of every month from 9am to 2pm. It’s about 40km outside of Johannesburg and combines art with fresh produce. Hazyview also has a nice market. Parkview Organic Market, held on Saturday morning in Tyrone Avenue, Parkview, and soon-to-open Green Market in Pretoria’s botanical garden in Brummeria.