The announcement was made at the annual general meeting last week, with the existing committee not standing for re-nomination.
“We had a full sweep of new nominations that were unopposed,” Quincey Jones Jelly Preserves founder and newly-appointed committee president Ian Harley said.
Nominations were made by current market stall-holders.
Mr Harley said the entire nomination process went smoothly as everyone was on the same page about who they wanted to elect for each role.
“There were forms sent out for nominations and we had about six or seven people who submitted their nominations,” he said.
Mr Harley, who has been running his stall at the market for seven years, has been advocating for positive changes for quite some time.
He said having fresh faces on the committee would assist in making the market more unique and exciting.
“We are energised and looking forward to renewing the market,” Mr Harley said.
“It’s really great to have a clean slate. Everyone’s really happy to commence in their roles and push the market forward because it does need a little push.”
Mr Harley said the committee had already started discussing a growth plan for the market.
The revitalised market is expected to encourage more local food producers and local handicraft makers to come together and sell their products.
“Local food is really important, especially when we do have supply chain issues with the big stores who can’t always get certain products. This has been highlighted throughout COVID-19 and now with the floods as well,” Mr Harley said.
“It’s much better to have items sourced locally. There’s less food miles, increased freshness and it supports our farmers and our community.
“For thousands of reasons, it’s just better.”
The committee’s aim is to put the market on the map as a must-visit destination for both locals and tourists.
“We want tourists to see something that might be local or different to what they’re used to seeing in Melbourne, but by no means does that mean that we exclude our locals. If anything, it gives them more choices, too,” Mr Harley said.
Handmade soaps, cakes, fresh pasta, cheeses and a wider variety of ready-to-eat meals are just some of the items that could be introduced to the updated market.
The committee has also discussed setting up food vans and trucks.
“We are also introducing a new coffee stall with coffee beans that have been roasted in Echuca. This will offer iced coffees and even nitro coffees,” Mr Harley said.
If anyone is interested in running a stall, the committee is looking for new stall-holders to join the farmers’ market and start promoting their products.
“We want to increase the products that are available to customers and give people a reason to visit the farmers’ market,” Mr Harley said.
“It’s probably been lacking a little bit in variety and that is why we are actively seeking new stall-holders.”
Mr Harley urges anyone who has just launched a business to visit the market and ask about running a stall.
“We want to encourage local entrepreneurs to have a go. This is what a farmers’ market is for — it can really give people that first leg up,” he said.
Mr Harley explained that these changes and new additions to the market were not going to happen overnight.
“There’s a lot of fresh blood and a lot of fresh faces in the committee. We’re all equal members in wanting to drive success, we’ll all be pitching in, and we all feel that there’s a lot of positive energy there to create some changes.”
The next farmers’ market will be on Saturday, March 5.
New Echuca Farmers’ Market committee members
Tim Harley: president.
Sarah Crossman: vice-president.
Daniel Mackrell: treasurer.
Gladys Harley: secretary.
General committee: Denise Ferrier, Mel Thomas.
Marketing ambassador and champion: Kathryn Mackenzie.