Katherine Community Market - www.katherinemarkets.com.au

If you are a Katherine resident or producer, you might like to read through this list of the many reasons that led to the creation of the Katherine Community Market:

Provision of a low cost way for locals to sell their wares in a superb location.

Showcase for local produce - local residents have little or no opportunity to see what is produced in the local region as there is nowhere that they can go to buy it locally.

Improved profitability for local growers as it provides a venue for them to sell goods locally without high transport costs and overcomes the limitations of trying to sell at the farm gate.

Allows locals to develop a range of products which can be sold locally, a limited market population lends itself to small quantities - often the only way to supply a product to an outlet and sell on one’s behalf is to have a guaranteed large supply which is not possible for individuals and small enterprise operators.

Provides an opportunity to keep tourists in the town longer -‘why don’t you stay until tomorrow and visit the local market?’ Whilst here they are spending money in other shops, thus adding to Katherine’s viability.

Provides a sense of community - locals can come and have breakfast and purchase locally grown fresh produce that they currently do not have access to and at a much cheaper price. All produce available in town is trucked in - a journey of several days and great expense.

Provides an opportunity for local Indigenous people to sell their products thereby creating employment for them. KRTA data shows ‘There is still a strong interest in Aboriginal cultural experiences with many tourists’.

If the market is held reliably, every week, local people will start to make produce to sell.

Increased employment as people begin to make things or employ others to make (eg clothing) or to pick and pack (eg fruit).

Increased use of the community/commercial kitchen that has been set up using funding from DAFF.

Tourists can leave Katherine in a positive light by taking some local produce with them - anything from a jar of chutney to a local Indigenous painting.

Word of mouth is very important among travelers. Tourists will spread the word about the market in Katherine.

The market would give an opportunity for local service organizations to fund raise and to raise their profile.

Entertainment could be provided by local artists thus giving them a much needed venue to showcase talent.