New Zealand, although quickly becoming a tourist hot spot, is still a country populated by farmers. There are more sheep than people on the islands, and most towns have a local “farmers market” on the weekend where they sell their crops.

While in the small up-and-coming wine region of Blenheim on NZ’s south island, we spent a wonderful sunny Saturday morning at the neighborhood market. It was just an empty plot of dirt on a street corner during the week, but came alive on Saturdays with food, music and drinks provided by the locals. I loved this sign someone had painted for the weekly event. Because the country is so isolated, the people are used to needing and enjoying each others’ support to keep their farms thriving.

Not only can you find wonderful small farmers markets in each town, you’ll often find vendors set up alongside the road in various places. It’s a great way to stop and get refreshed during those long site-seeing journeys….and trust me when I say you will NEVER find a Kiwi fruit as divine as the ones grown in NZ!