Piopio Community Fruit and Vege Stand

Summer delivers all sorts of abundance to our Community Stand, with heaps of local homegrown fruit and veggies. Thus far into the season I can say that this year’s plums are down over 2024 in terms of volume, and the birds have had more than their fair share. Apples, quince, pears and peaches are looking good, fingers crossed. It’s too early to know about the feijoas, figs, walnuts and hazelnuts.

We’ve had a good season with veggies, but I don’t know yet about the heirloom tomatoes. They’re telling me the cool hot weather has them a bit off their game. Time will tell.

I’m recounting my learning journey with heritage climbing beans via the Stand FB page as it continues, with thanks to the Heritage Food Crops Research Trust in Wanganui for providing the seeds. Their website is a great resource for anyone interested in growing food, especially heirloom tomatoes, heritage beans, and Monty’s Surprise apples. They are also very generous about sharing free seeds if you want or need them. We had a local gentleman arrive at our house during the holidays to share some Dutch heritage peas his family has grown in the district for many years. I’ve saved some, grown some, and sent some down to
the Trust for preservation.

Your contributions of homegrown produce continue to be gratefully received and go off quickly to appreciative homes. Very little goes to waste. Recently I found a thank you note from someone named Greg about the jam; the kind of thing that makes me smile.

I must confess that we don’t need recycled egg cartons left at the stand. And I will put the word out when more jars are needed by our jam makers, they do let me know. At the moment everyone’s cupboards are full, and I am taking things to the dump since we don’t have kerbside collection.

Check out our Facebook page for updates on what’s on offer most weekday mornings, recipes and growing tips. Please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions or issues.

Karen Barrett
[email protected]
0275 727 407