For a proud city-dweller, it is easy to forget the rich farmlands and producers that lie just outside Sydney's urban sprawl.
The Hawkesbury Harvest was founded in 2000 as a collective dedicated to providing fresh, seasonal produce from the
Hawkesbury region.
The collective exists today not only as a supplier, but as a free-moving market and as host for a variety of special events.
The Hawkesbury Harvest markets are located in
Castle Hill and
Penrith. At these markets it is possible to buy fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as delicious cheese, bread, and jams, all from areas around Sydney.
The Castle Hill Farmers and Fine Food Markets are held at the Castle Hill
Showground and start at 8am.
In
Penrith, on the first Saturday of the month, producers and growers will not merely sell you their goods, but also tell you about how it is grown or made.
Apart from the markets, until 3 February 2011, the
Purple Noon Gallery will host an
exhibition called "Contested Landscapes of Western Sydney", in which ANU students offer their impression of regional issues.
