Sunday morning was gloomy grey. The skies were dim with a hint of drizzle, and I would have continued nesting in my warm bed had my sister not announced she was heading to the weekly Palmy Farmer’s Market.

The Palmy Farmer’s Market sets up in Palmerston North every Saturday and Sunday morning from as early as 7 am till noon. It is a collection of stalls set up by local farmers from the neighboring towns, and Palmerston North residents flock here every weekend for great deals on fresh, organic farm produce.

I couldn’t help clicking the gorgeous fresh produce being sold. Everything looks so colorfully fresh and delicious!

Apart from fresh fruit and vegetables, shoppers can enjoy hot, greasy treats like deep-fried Hot Dogs, Chinese street food and the very traditional Maori Fry Bread.

My sister recommended I tried the Samoan Coconut Bread. Freshly baked, fluffy and filled with a decadent coconut filling, these breads were the perfect morning treat with a hot cup of tea.

At the stall selling the Coconut Bread, I met Maruna Engu. By day he is a marketing guru, having founded a local loyalty program called Miciti. As an avid cook, he loves being a part of the weekly Palmy Farmer’s Market and showcasing delicacies from his Pacific Island roots.

Here he is working on a big batch of doughnut dough:

The doughnuts are deep-fried at the stall itself, and a generous sprinkling of icing sugar makes it all pretty and sweet.

Maruna generously offered me a freshly fried doughnut on the house! #omnomnom

Apart from fresh produce and naughty street food, the Palmy Farmer’s Market has stalls selling locally produced art and craft, jewelry and pre-loved bric-a-brac.

Palmy Farmer’s Market is a great start to the weekend. Although the weather was a little gloomy, the cold, fresh morning air did me a world of good and we went home with bagfuls of beautifully organic produce.