Sydney Vegan Market and companion event Newcastle Vegan Market have restarted their operations online in response to the coronavirus pandemic, which has devastated Sydney’s hospitality industry and halted public gatherings. The platform, now called Vegan NSW Marketplace, is a haven for vegan food, fresh produce and ethically made goods.

It’s been set up to replicate the physical monthly markets which, after a series of relocations, settled in Moore Park’s Entertainment Quarter in 2018.

Marketplace coordinator Kate Jones says keeping the vegan community connected was the driving motivation behind the move online, which took three weeks to implement.

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“We wanted to help continue to support the community and our vegan businesses,” Jones tells Broadsheet. “The world is a different place right now, and we’re existing in this fear. A lot of people have lost their jobs and there isn’t a lot of money going around. So what we’re asking is that people who are still able to financially support the sellers keep doing so.”

Jones says the website will remain an ongoing fixture of the markets, meaning high-quality vegan products will be accessible to the community between market days.

“The plan is that, when it’s safe to do so, we will continue to open vegan markets around New South Wales, and this online platform will also help support sellers through that process,” says Jones. “So yes, we can put on a huge market once a month across different regions, but we also want to make sure that [those] products are out there every day of the week.”

Vegan NSW Marketplace is divided into simple categories, making it easy to search through the 700 (and counting) items on offer. Head to Savoury Street for pre-cooked meals such as lasagne and stir-fry, try Pantry Place for essentials including nut butter, bread mix and curry sauce, or swing past Sweet Tooth Central for pastries, chocolate and cupcakes. Stallholders' delivery capacities vary, but a pick-up option (with social-distancing rules) is in the works, too.

If you need a gift for mum or want to say thanks to a neighbour, there’s a whole gift section of the market for that, too. Take a virtual stroll down Compassion Corner, Eco Avenue, Love Yourself Lane or Artisan Alley for huge range of skincare, cosmetics, jewellery and tea. Plus, if you’re tight on cash, Marketplace on a Budget has a range of products for less than $10.

Sydney Vegan Market was started by not-for-profit organisation Vegan NSW back in 2017. Since then it’s seen between 8000 and 15,000 customers in attendance each month – and Jones hopes that support will translate online.

“There are new products and new sellers coming on board every day. It’s not a finished project, it’s happening every day as we keep going,” says Jones. “We’re hoping that everyone can come on the journey with us.”

vnswmarketplace.org.au