The Transformation - The Commons Market!

Our quest to build a resilient local food network is part of the Bass Coast South Gippsland Food System Alliance, supported by VicHealth’s Local Partnerships for Food First. Our goal is to make healthy, sustainable and affordable produce accessible to everyone in Leongatha.

The Commons at the Leongatha Community Garden has launched a weekly Saturday market to offer fresh and, where possible, locally sourced produce. Currently supplemented by the fabulous Grow Lightly growers, we are aiming to transition to supply most vegetables from the Commons and other local gardens over the coming months.

Transparency in Performance

The Commons Market, our pop-up mini market, has seen a "stellar start" since its late January launch. We are now seeing double the average number of customers compared to our previous "Cluck and Collect" model.

Recent results show steady growth across all our indicators. Numbers of customers and good financials have grown week on week.   All surpluses will be invested back into The Commons initiative.

Metric of Success: We track the weight of local/sustainable produce available for sale against total volume for sale. Currently, 44% of our produce meets this criterion. Our target is to reach 87.5% as we transition away from outside suppliers to our own locally grown produce at the Commons, supplemented by the fabulous Grow Lightly growers, from other local growers and household gardeners with surplus produce, over the coming months.

Why are we focused on building a local food system?

Well one of the reasons is how far the food travels to get onto  our plate.   According to research and as  reported by ABC news, “Most fresh food in Australia travels thousands of kilometres to be sorted, divvied up and, in some cases, sent back to the place it came from — at huge cost to farmers and shoppers,” to our health and to our environment.  Estimates are that the food on an Australians plate has, on average, travelled 1,500kms!

Griffith University’s Kimberley Reis, who researches local supply chains and how to make them more resilient, says the current model needs to improve.

“We don’t have a food system model that is based on supporting local and regional economies,” Dr Reis says.

The Affordability Mission

Against the backdrop of a national cost-of-living crisis, our initial priority is providing affordable fresh food.  We will continue to transition to locally grown produce as fast as is possible.

On Saturday February 21, 2026, a basket of goods at the Commons Market cost $50.26, while the same items at a "price gouger" supermarket cost $69.10.  This represents a massive 27.3% ($18.84) saving for local households.

The Commons Market is open every Saturday from 8am until 10:30, selling a range fruit and vegetables and eggs. 

Howard Street, Leongatha

Cash or credit.

With your support we can help build a local food system, one plate at a time.

We would love to see you next weekend!