Naked Possum Market Days prove popular
Steve Davis, at rear, who sells vegetables at the market. In front Rae Lentz who has had great success selling sewn goods to raise money for her 65-year-old mother’s Outward Bound experience.
Country Market Day at the Naked Possum Café has become a regular event and is proving popular with locals and visitors.
The idea of holding a market so local people can sell their produce was conceived by co-proprietor Jocelyn Rae. “Business is always somewhat slower over the winter months, so I was trying to think of ways to encourage people to come to the Naked Possum. On market days we now have a steady stream of people coming to either sell produce or to browse the stalls.”
Customers can also take the opportunity to sit by the outdoor fire and have a drink or a meal. Regular stallholders sell items ranging from vegetables and honey to cakes and arts and crafts, and in addition various forms of entertainment are often organised on market days. Recently, visitors were entertained by local singer and guitarist Tina Bridgeman.
Despite the winter weather, stallholders report excellent sales and by mid-afternoon many are nearly sold out. Local schoolgirl Molly Boult had only a handful of cakes left on her stall at 2pm. Donna Zeller, owner of Zellerbee honey, said that she was delighted to be able to sell so much of her product to the local market. In fact, local sales of honey have proved so popular that her company may have less to export next season.
This week, regular patrons were also delighted to see Grant Fitz-William, the other half of the Naked Possum team, enjoying market day next to the open fire, obviously well on his way to recovery after suffering a recent stroke.
Naked Possum Country Market Days will be held on the first and third Sunday of every month over the winter period.
Sarah Milligan
