The Tel Aviv Farmers' Market opened in May 2008 in the city's new port area and became an Earth Market in 2009. It is the first such market in Israel and adopted the Slow Food philosophy from the outset. The market is held every Friday morning and Tuesday evening, and the 30 stalls attract around 6,000 customers. 60 producers are involved, a large array of products are on offer: olive oil, goats cheese, a wide offering of fresh fruit and vegetables, wine and some of the traditional foods from the region such as tahini and freshly baked pastries.

The market is situated in a recently renovated port area, and is especially popular at weekends. A wide variety of people come to take enjoy the reasonable prices and high quality (many restaurateurs seek out top produce first thing in the morning) and the access to food from producers of varied cultural backgrounds.

The two market organizers, Shir Halpern and Michal Ansky, are writers and journalists interested in food and food history; Michal completed a Master in Food Culture at the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Colorno in 2009. These two young women embody the spirit and energy of the market, which is the result of their passion and drive.

As the first producer's market to be established in contemporary times in Israel, the market sets an important precedent and a great example for the future. Three additional Earth Markets are already in the planning stages for other cities across the country.

Photo credits of all Tel Aviv market pictures found in these pages: *Reyan and Amos Schilack*.

Here a blog, with many wonderful pictures of the market.

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Tel Aviv Earth Market
the New Port of Tel Aviv,
hangar 11
every Friday morning (8am-3pm) and Tuesday evening
all year long,
Contact: Michal Ansky
michalansky@gmail.com
www.farmersmarket.co.il
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