Christchurch Farmer's Market

With the best of Canterbury produce, fine coffee and themed festivals held throughout the year, the Christchurch Farmers Market at the historic Riccarton House is the place to be on Saturdays.

Customers can expect to find anything from fresh fruit and vegetables to wines, chocolates and cakes. With its organic and locally sourced produce, manager Jamie Bennett says the market can't be beaten for quality.

"You're buying direct from the grower, you don't have the middle-man there, the pricing is very good and you have the freshness as well. The majority of the people that sell fruit and vege usually pick on the Friday and its at the market on Saturday so the quality is very high."

The market has been running for four years and has grown to the point that it now boasts more than 50 stalls.

One of those stall-holders is Nik Mavromatis, owner of the Real Sausage company who helped set up the first farmers market and has been coming ever since.

Nik proudly states that the only two things in his sausages are meat and seasoning - unlike most New Zealand sausages which are full of nitrates, bread crumbs and various other things but contain very little real meat.

Another stall-holder is Celia Hay whose pies are made with organic lamb, chicken and beef.

The lamb comes from Celia's own Banks Peninsula farm while the pastry is made using a low fat organic flour which is partially sourced from kiwifruit.

Celia says the farmers market has been a great avenue to get people to try her new pies.

Aside from the quality produce, a big part of the markets appeal is that unlike going to the supermarket, a trip to the market actually doubles as a good day out.

"Instead of picking stuff off the shelves you get to actually talk to the person and give them feedback as well," Jamie says. "If there is something you want to see at the market quite often people have managed to grow it for them or managed to make a certain product for them."

The market regularly stages events such as eating and cooking competitions and sometimes holds a festival on the last Saturday of the month.

The June festival will be Matariki (Maori new year) themed and will feature powhiri (welcome ceremony), a harvest festival, Maori performance, dance and music, hangi, muttonbird and bush tours.

The new website allows customers to find out what's on and what products will be available each week. Customers can subscribe to get regular email updates about upcoming events.