The Galle Good Market has been around since January, and we've been lucky enough to drop by a couple of times. It's on a slightly smaller scale than the Colombo chapter, but the sense of community is very strong, and the Court Square setting is just lovely! With a bunch of little stalls nestled under the sprawling Banyan tree in the square, you can while away a lazy Saturday morning walking around and seeing what's on offer for the week. It's been developed in cooperation with the Ministry of Southern Development and the Galle Heritage Foundation.
Not much is different in terms of policy and ethos. The Galle Good Market, much like it's capitol counterpart, showcases products and services that are good for people and good for the planet. It is a curated marketplace, which means all vendors go through an application and review process to ensure they meet Good Market standards.
More than the ethical and sustainable stand points, the Good Market is also heaps of fun. There's always interesting activities on, whether its spoken word poetry, acoustic music, dance, or art. You'll find lovely fresh fruit juice, local nibbles, typical Galle antiques and jewellery, as well as organic spa products, vegetables, and handloom clothes. It's perfect for both tourists and hardened locals alike.
The Galle Good Market is focused on organic farmers, social enterprises, and responsible businesses in the southern region. Visitors will find organic fruits, vegetables, spices, tea, heirloom rice, and houseplants, natural goat milk, and much more. Specialty food stalls will have Sri Lankan coffee drinks, baked goods, traditional rice and curry, fresh hoppers, local fruit juices, waraka jam (Jak fruit), kithul flour pudding, kurakkan kokis, lunu dehi achcharu, fish ambulthiyal and many other village treats. Local artisans will feature clothing, housewares, and gifts made from indikola, wetakeiya, hana, terracotta, coconut shells, wood and other natural materials.
The Saturday Good Market in Colombo will still be open weekly from 10 am to 6 pm at the Colombo Racecourse. The Good Market organic and natural food shop is open daily from 8 am to 8 pm across the street from the Racecourse at 14 Reid Avenue (Philip Gunawardana Mawatha), Colombo 7. Good Market organic farm visits and other travel experiences can be organized by contacting travel@goodmarket.lk or 0774134455.
Want to get involved? There are opportunities for organic farmers, non-profits, social enterprises, responsible businesses, volunteers, part-time positions, photographers, musicians, poets, performers, educators and anyone who cares about the environment, community, and health. For more information, visit www.goodmarket.lk or contact 0770208642.
