An initiative of Local Living Dungog the Saturday stall is staffed by enthusiastic growers and volunteers and provides same day picked produce at affordable prices.

Chillbillies restaurant provided great support by hosting the stall for the first 18 months and giving the group storage space. This year the stall moved into the CWA courtyard next door allowing for some expansion of the weekly stall.

The Local Growers Stall operates under the auspices of the Dungog Shire Community Centre and in return the group donates any produce that is left over to the Centre for distribution.

The stall provides backyard and commercial growers with a regular outlet for their surplus produce at prices set by them. Over the past 12 months some $18,000 worth of produce has been sold with 90% of the funds going direct to the growers. The remaining 10% covers the group’s costs.

But in keeping with the objectives of Local Living Dungog the stall is probably most important for what it represents, encouraging sustainability in local food production.

Even small rural towns like Dungog need the convenience and reliability of commercial supermarkets and fruit and vegetable stores. 

However, initiatives like the growers stall constantly remind us of the importance of locally grown and freshly picked produce. 

Customers at the stall regularly remark on how the produce lasts longer and “tastes like it used to do”. 

The stall also provides an outlet for some interesting and unusual “boutique” vegetables and fruit not normally seen at commercial outlets.

Locals also gather at the stall to discuss ideas and experiences in growing their own produce, along with sharing seeds. Look out for the “Seeds for Swapping Box” which is a new initiative about to appear on the stall.

Already the stall sells produce from young growers and it is hoped it will stimulate more young people to become involved in growing their own food.

For visitors it all adds the experience of coming to Dungog. What better memento of Dungog than a basket full of freshly picked fruit and seasonal vegetables.

Many people have contributed to the success of the stall.

The local growers, large and small, who regularly provide produce for the stall and the tireless volunteers who staff the stall each week. Over the past two years there have been up to 4 commercial and 41 backyard growers and over 24 volunteers in that time with a regular group committed to a monthly roster.

Special mention should also be made of Helen Rubeli who instigated the stall under the umbrella of the Local Living Dungog and Pauline Cambourne for her meticulous and careful work as Treasurer in ensuring each grower, no matter how small, gets their payment for produce sold. 

Having reached its two-year milestone the grower’s stall is primed for a bright future.

One of the ironies of modern life is that it is often easier to find fresh produce in the big cities than in the smaller rural communities.

Nurturing food production in rural communities is a win win situation for all concerned and it just makes sense for the community and the environment.

Importantly the growers stall complements rather than competing with the established role of the commercial food retailers.

The good news is that increasingly commercial food retailers are coming on board with more locally sourced produce featuring on the shelves.

The success of the growers stall is further evidence that people will buy locally produced food 

given the opportunity. 

The stall helps ensure that surplus local produce is not wasted. It provides a window on what is achievable by locals at the local level and it provides a fresh stimulus for locals of all ages to try growing their own food.

The local growers stall is held every Saturday morning in the CWA courtyard in Dowling Street next to Chillbillies restaurant. It is open from 8.30am till 12 noon.

If you would like to get involved, either as a grower or a volunteer, or you would like further information, contact the stall coordinator, Amanda Gale on 0423 743 607.