WESTERN AUSTRALIAN
FARMERS' MARKETS
Association
YOUR COMMITTEE
CHAIRPERSON - JENNY PAYET
Jenny Payet has had active involvement in Farmers Markets since 1997 when she was instrumental in setting up the Gascoyne Growers Markets in Carnarvon. Jenny and her husband have been primary producers in a Carnarvon plantation and hydroponic producers in the South West region. Jenny continues to support Max’s bee keeping and honey production venture whilst also working for WA Country Health in Health Promotion. This role includes supporting Local Government in Public Health Planning which includes nutrition, physical activity and mental health all of which can be influenced by a vibrant farmers market. Jenny continues to advocate for authentic farmers markets in regional areas and is an active member of the Australian Farmers Markets Association.
TREASURER KAT LOMBARDO
Kat has lived in Margaret River since 2002 and in 2010 was successfully appointed the role of the Margaret River Farmers Market manager with the Margaret River Regional Producers Association.
Kat has gained considerable knowledge over the years of Farmers’ Markets and the many opportunities farmers markets can bring to a community. Kat is passionate about conveying the message of what an authentic farmers market can be and for this reason has had a committed role in creating the WA Farmers Markets Association (WAFMA) with the other WAFMA committee members.
Kat strongly upholds the WAFMA goal to better inform the public, government bodies, individuals and groups as to what a true and sustainable farmers market is and to support start up farmers markets to aspire to a level of authenticity best suited to them.
YVONNE MARSDEN
Yvonne is the current chairperson of the Geraldton Greenough Farmers Market (GGFM) and has been associated with it since its inception in 2008. Yvonne gains great satisfaction watching its community and customer attendance and stallholders often selling out within the first hour.
The turning point for the GGFM was in October 2009 when Jane Adams the then chair of the Australian Farmers Markets Association Jane Adams presented on the importance of paddock to plate and a Sponsorship from Great Northern Rural for the 2009 NRM Conference “Changing Environments”
Yvonne operates a holistic livestock farm 30 km east of Geraldton producing wool and meat sheep. Aspiring to selling their Wahroonga meat at the GGFM but facing regulatory health and financial barriers, Yvonne has a good understanding of some of the challenges facing primary producers and their ability to sell at farmers markets. Yvonne and her GGFM volunteers operate the GGFM Mobile Kitchen every farmers markets whilst also providing a social meeting place for the volunteers giving them a sense of place and purpose at the GGFM.
RUTH SPELDEWINDE
Ruth moved to Albany in 2000 and was delighted to be able to buy local produce direct from farmers when Albany Farmers Market opened in 2002. Taking on the role of Market Coordinator at Albany Farmers Market in 2020 gave her a deeper appreciation of the importance of farmers markets and their role within a community both economically and socially. Ruth joined the WAFMA committee in 2023 to support the work of existing and new farmers markets in WA and to help increase connections between them.
DI MILLER
Di Miller is now managing the Mt Claremont Farmers' Market in the Perth metro area after living in the south-west for many years, working in the wine industry. Di has owned and operated agribusinesses, and has a keen interest in helping the farmers' market continued success. The benefits are many and to a wide variety of people as it forms a crucial part of the local community. An NFP, all proceeds from this market go to the Mt Claremont Primary School P&C and are used to benefit the students at the school.