Jun 6, 2010 @ 14:38
Here are the photos of the new Singapore farmers’ market organized by The Pantry. It is also the largest farmers’ market in Singapore as far as I know. Contrary to my fears, the farmers’ market is very much like the farmers markets you see in NZ, UK and USA. They had lots of stalls selling fresh produce, artisan breads and jams, brownies, cakes and muffins of all colours and sizes. Go hungry, because there are lots to sample and how else can you tell whether what you’re buying is good?
My only grouse is that most of the items on sale are more expensive than what I am used to when I visit the farmers markets overseas. This is undoubtedly because a lot of the premium ingredients have to be shipped from overseas.
Despite the initial drizzle I’m glad I did make it to Loewen Gardens in the end. You can see the roads are wet, but it’s fine because all the stalls are under tents. In fact, it was pretty cooling even though it was noon. I had a wonderful time taking in the vibrancy of the place as well as taking photos.
For such an ”off-the-map” location by Singapore standards (you really need a car to get here or risk walking uphill for at least 20 minutes?), the market was pretty crowded. Most of the people there, be it customers or stall-owners were Caucasian. I wonder if this is because Singaporeans are not interested in Farmers’ markets. Does the average Singaporean even know what a Farmer’s market is? Or is just because the farmers’ market was the brainchild of a Caucasian woman, and the word-of-mouth has yet to spread to the locals? Whatever the reason, it’s definitely a treat to spend a Saturday morning at Loewen Gardens whoever you are.
Inside The Pantry cafe. I love how the goodies are stacked on the counter top in full view.
Closer shot of the muffins. Now tell me you can resist this and I’ll tell you you’re lying!
Scones from The Pantry
Wild Honey — They sell jams and loaves of cakes here. They also have a cafe at Mandarin Gallery along Orchard Road.
Close up shot of the Wild Honey goodies — According to their facebook page, they were selling brioche breads, granola, jams and honey, doughnuts, chicken pies, tea breads etc The stuff is not cheap. We tried their delicious jam and wanted to buy some but it cost $18 per bottle! The tea breads cost $15 I believe!
Zenxin — Zenxin is also available at Shop & Save. In my opinion, Zenxin sells the cheapest organic produce in Singapore.
Imported Organic vegetable seller
Another stall selling organic veggies and fruits
Baked goods and artisan breads. No more generic Gardenia or Sunshine for me.
Open air cooking of Paella (seafood rice dish) $5 per serving
MadzChef — Baked goods of all sorts
Freedom Eggs from Chews I believe— No more battery hens. About $2.50 for half a dozen
The Pantry’s Alfresco area for you to rest after a hard day’s marketing, or to watch the shoppers haggling
The little ones can be amused at the painting area, or the trampoline
More pictures below and directions on how to get to The Farmer’s Market
Meat off the bone guy — 25 cents per gram
Brownie seller — 3 small ones for $8 or 1 entire loaf for $18
The Spanish Pantry selling lots of chocolates
Australian with his jams and chutneys
Free parking!
Address: 75 Loewen Road, Singapore 248844
How to get there (courtesy of The Pantry’s website): via Dempsey Road, follow signs to Loewen Cluster. Easiest access is from Tanglin Road. Turn into Ridley Park towards Tanglin Village. Road becomes Loewen Road. Loewen Gardens is on your right in Block 75-81. Free Parking! Click on this link for a map on how to get to the Farmers Market.
It is not possible to walk in from the main road (ie Tanglin Road) because it would probably take 20 minutes or more and it is steeply uphill!
This doesn’t look like Singapore at all. Oooo the muffins and the icing!!! Wonderful photos…everything looks so good!!
I sure didn’t know about this until now. Thanks!
It was wonderful. The next one is on 3rd July, must go!!!
Thanks for the comments, I hope that you enjoyed the farmer’s market as we did. It was fantastic to meet so many people who are as passionate about cage-free eggs as we are. Just to clarify, Freedom Range Eggs are produced exclusively for us by Chew’s farm according to our specifications and ethos, which is to put the welfare of our hens first and foremost. We believe that a happier hen lays tastier eggs and that premium barn laid eggs need not come with a premium price.
The best news of all is that you need not wait until the next farmers market to get your hands on our eggs. We are now available at the following Fairprice stores:
Fairprice Finest Bukit Timah Plaza
Fairprice Finest Thompson Plaza
Fairprice Finest Marine Parade
Fairprice Finest Century Square
Fairprice Finest Somerset Tripleone
Fairprice Hypermart Ang Mo Kio hub
We are also available at Jones The Grocer and will be in Cold Storage by the end of June 2010
We welcome any comments or feedback.
Adrian
The Freedom Range Co.
Thanks Adrian for stopping by, I am definitely all for cage-free eggs, especially since I used to have a pet chicken. I hope that as more organic or ethically derived food is available in Singapore, more people will start insisting upon meat/eggs being derived from sources which take the animals’ welfare into account.
THANK YOU!!! i’ll try to find them at Fairprice Finest 🙂
I’m so sick of eggs coming from battery cage hens.
I hope it catches on, so companies will stop using cages.
[…] food stuff from muffins, honey, jams, vegetables, organic stuff, etc. check this link – gives you a pretty good idea since a picture paints a thousand words (supposedly ;p). it was way […]
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[…] A RECENT post on the food blog 365days2play features several photographs taken at a bustling farmer’s market. There are some of tables heaving with fresh organic greens; a few baskets of artisanal breads; and yet others of cartons of barn-laid eggs. And then, at the bottom, a comment from a reader: ‘This doesn’t look like Singapore at all.’ […]
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Farmers’ market in the U.S. and in Europe are places where you can buy fresh and cheaper produce because you buy direct from the producer / farmers. Since we have no farms in s’pore, the greens are all mostly imported. So prices at supermarkets are inevitably cheaper! I’ll say buy with your eyes wide open. Besides the artisan breads and jams, brownies, cakes and muffins are priced way too high. Ok for the expatriate pay package but indulgent for the locals. As the blogger reports that the customers, stall owners are westerners, it is clearly an expat watering hole. Since it is founded by a caucasian woman, it is obviously to provide a venue for bored expats to bake and sell, and expat customers to feel that they are buying things from their “home producer”. Locals do go and have a look, but you can buy as good produce from your neigbourhood supermarkets at probably 1/3 of the price. The trick is to choose your products wisely.
I like to eat organic, free-range, grass-fed foods but as Sylvia has rightly commented the prices of these items are really at a premium. But with some planning, it’s not entirely out of reach. I’d love to know of any good places in Singapore that sell affordable whole (minimally processed) organic foods including meats, vegetables, eggs etc other than Cold Storage & Fairprice. Please drop me a drop at my website. If the list gets large enough, I could even publish it on my site. Thanks!
[…] to admit, it was just as fun going to the Pasir Panjang Wholesale market, as it was going to the Loewen Gardens Farmers Market. In fact, prices at the Pasir Panjang Wholesale market are so cheap, I didn’t have to think twice […]
Wish this had been there when I lived in Singapore. I know Jane Glascow from my time there. Alas, we have lost touch but it is good to see her doing so well at something she has always enjoyed.
Hi Teri, thanks for stopping by my blog. When was it that you last lived in Singapore? It’s really nice to have a western type farmers’ market in Singapore. I loved those that I’ve been to in the UK and NZ.
You can try contacting her at thepantrychef@gmail.com, if you haven’t already done so. 🙂
[…] found this great post from 365days2play. 365days2play kindly let us use her photos on our post. Check out her blog for posts on food, […]