This weekend South Melbourne Market is hosting an Australian Garlic Celebration, where marketgoers can learn more about this gorgeously pungent bulb!
The Market is celebrating Australian garlic this weekend, and it’s a good time to reflect on the long road the farmers have taken since cheap, bleached, imported garlic hit the shelves in the mid 1990s.
Today, the Australian garlic industry has bounced back thanks to increased consumer demand for local Australian produce.
Plus an increased awareness of Country of Origin, a love of fresh food, an increase in home cooking and a desire to reduce our food miles.
Today, Australians are spoilt for choice with local garlic available in red, white and purple; spicy and hot, mild and nutty, pungent and aromatic.
Garlic is not just garlic anymore, it comes in different flavours and sizes, has different harvesting and storage times, and can be used for a variety of different dishes.
The celebration at the Market is the result of a collaboration between Georgina Dragwidge of Georgie’s Harvest and the Australian Garlic Industry Association.
February is Australian Garlic Awareness Month with festivals around Victoria each weekend.
SMM Marketgoers can;
Meet the local growers
Taste and discover award winning garlic varieties
Talk to garlic expert Penny Woodward
Learn how its grown, cured and harvested and
Taste delicious garlic dishes at our restaurants.
Times: Saturday 11 & Sunday 12 February | 10am – 3pm
Locations are: Georgie’s Harvest (Stall 50), Claypots, Paco y Lola, Koy & Simply Spanish (Cecil Street) and Proper & Son (Food Hall)
The growers that will be showcasing their garlic during this celebration include:
Freshwater Creek Garlic (John Oliff), Italian Late (Artichoke), Wildes Lane (Anna King), Oriental Purple (Turban), Dynamite Purple (Creole), Southern Cross Garlic (Tony Murphy), Rose du Var (Silverskin), High Country Farm (Edwina and Josh), High Country Purple (originally Australian Purple, Turban), Kevin Grivell and Spanish Roja (Creole).
