This is a taste of the new Taree Farmers Market that popped up at Johnny Martin Oval on Thursday, November 21. It will be back on Thursday, December 19 and its stall holders are keen for the community to come and experience the convenience of a mid-week market in the heart of Taree.

Taree Farmers Market is new and market co-ordinator, Sandra Fishwick hopes it will soon become an integral part of local shoppers fresh produce purchases.

The December market will be the third Taree Farmers Market and will feature a diverse range of fresh produce and products grown and manufactured locally.

John Barber of Hallidays Point has thrown his hat into the ring to support the Thursday market. He is a regular at the Black Head markets and loves selling his produce direct to the people who will eat it.

Last month his stall tables were covered with bunches of beetroot, tiny sweet tomatoes, corn, limes, onions and potatoes. He says that he sells whatever is seasonal and best from his garden.

For John, the Taree Farmers Market is also a social outing.

"You get to meet people from all walks of life. It's social and it's also about community," he explained.

"I love the feedback and so many people say that when you buy freshly picked produce it tastes better and lasts longer than produce that has been artificially ripened and stored in cool rooms."

Warwick Williams of Wilmaria Olives travelled from Telegraph Point with bottles filled with pickled olives, tapenades and olive oil.

Three hundred trees on his property at Telegraph Point produce the olives that he uses to create the Wilmaria Olives range of products.

Manzanillo olives for table eating are pickled with garlic, Italian herbs, crushed chilli, or red wine and balsamic vinegar and the beautiful oil of corregiola and frantoio olives are grown to create the golden oils. It was his first time at the market and he is keen to return to Taree to help tempt and to educate the community about olives.

The aroma for perfectly cooked Peppercorn Belted Galloway Beef wafted through the market grounds as Terry Pierce cooked perfect steak and sausage sandwiches made with his grass-fed and aged beef. His wife, Karen proudly sells fresh and frozen cuts of their beef which is produced on their stud in Barrington.

Market co-ordinator Sandra is keen to add to the number of stalls at Taree Farmers Market and is delighted with interest and support of other stallholders which also bought a variety of fresh produce, coffee, gelato, jams and pickles and mulch hay.

To book a stall for the December 19 market visit www.tareefarmersmarket.com or call Sandra on 6551 8312.