Farmers’ markets are a way to bring community and a touch of Australia to towns and cities across Australia. We have compiled a list of the top farmers markets in Australia.
A banana is the one thing you won’t find at the Alphington Farmers Market, Melbourne’s north. Michelle O’Connor, a staffer, jokes that if you can’t buy a banana here or a pineapple there, then something is wrong.
You will find incredible Victorian produce, including Corangamite milk, Gippsland egg, Murray River citrus juice, Daylesford beef, Daylesford olives, and many other items – as well as the makers and farmers who make these products.
Food markets operate from various locations across the country. They are open to all citizens who want to connect with their food. These markets also offer a place for people to gather and shop outdoors safely. Most farmers’ markets trade under COVID-19 restrictions. The money that is spent at the markets goes straight back to the farmer – there’s no middle man. To that end, we’ll drink (something hyperlocal).
Willunga Farmers Market, Willunga / Willangga, SA
Mark and Lisa McCarthy have more than 10 varieties and 9 types of pears on their McLaren Vale property McCarthy’s Orchard. The orchard also boasts 70-year-old shiraz grapes. This pioneering farmers market was launched in South Australia in 2001. The McCarthys have been regulars since then. Jenni Mitton, the manager of the 80-stall Saturday market, is 45 minutes south from Adelaide and specializes in produce from the Fleurieu Peninsula. Fleurieu Milk Company’s full cream milk, Little Acre Foods’ handcrafted pates and rillettes, and Kangaroo Island Shellfish oysters are all available to purchase. After all the shopping is done, you can satisfy your hunger with Bull Creek Bakery pies.
Barossa Farmers Market Ngadjuri Country SA
This Saturday market, which features 50 stalls, is located in a shed on Angaston’s country lane. For a taste of local pears and apricots, head straight to Trevallie Orchard’s stall. Look out for Gumshire Pork’s marbled Hampshire cuts and Fenton Farm Fresh Greens. Bean Addiction also sells coffee. You can also find delicious fudge, mettwurst, quail eggs and goose eggs.
Farm Gate Market, Hobart / Nipaluna, Tas
Madi Seeber Peattie, the founder of the Farm Gate Market, says, “Having traveled a lot overseas, I noticed the homegrown pride, advocacy at farmers’ market that we didn’t have here.” The 85-odd stalls take over Bathurst Street in Hobart’s CBD every Sunday. They sell around 30 varieties of apples and 40 kinds of potatoes. Stone fruit is available in summer, including cherries, nectarines and peaches, as well as berries of all colors. You can join the queue to get George Town Seafoods fresh caught scallops and fish, or Cygnet Mushroom Farm’s chestnut shrooms. All things come from the Apple Isle. Senor Frijoles’s quesadillas are made with cheddar, and Wood Fiery Redhead’s breakfast rolls contain smoked pork.
Street Eats @ Franko, Hobart / Nipaluna, Tas
These night markets are an offshoot from Farm Gate and take place in Hobart’s Franklin Square on Fridays during Tassie’s most welcoming months (December to March). The focus is on local vendors, but it’s all about bringing your picnic blanket to enjoy the local entertainment. Under twinkling lights, there are about 20 stalls that line the square. Favorites include Harissa Hobart’s vegan burritos or the charcoal-grilled Taiwanese-style Squid from Formosa Bites. You can’t miss the bevvies: Endangered Distilling Co’s Bread vodka and Captain Bligh’s spirits.
Alphington Farmers Market, Wurundjeri Country, Vic
Schulz Organic Dairy offers a full-cream dream: a single herd, organic, and biodynamic dairy, produced by the same family since 1972. It’s shipped in glass bottles, just like the old days. This Sunday market features Schulz and Save Our Soil Australia’s Mark Rathbone, who bring biodynamic vegetables such as sweet potatoes, broccoli, pumpkins, and Milawa Free Range Poultry, along with bread, honey, and other goodies. The Bao Melbourne bun is well worth the journey.
Coburg Farmers Market, Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Country, Vic
Coburg’s Saturday food festival, which is small but well-organized, fosters a sense of community. It is run by Melbourne Farmers Markets. They also operate the Alphington (Carlton), Abbotsford, Gasworks (Albert Park), and Gasworks (Albert Park). Michelle O’Connor, MFM’s Michelle O’Connor, says that the Inner Northern market is Victorian-style with over 30 carefully selected stalls offering “one and all”. She says, “We wouldn’t have two honeys and two eggs.” Day’s Walk Farm organic vegetables are restaurant-quality. Streat is a not-for-profit social enterprise.
Mullum Farmers Market, Bundjalung Country, NSW
Picone Exotic Fruits is John Picone’s NSW North Coast farm that grows the strange, the wonderful, and the delicious. Picone will be selling his exceptional koubo, torch ginger, soncoya and marina di chioggia pumpkin at Mullumbimby’s showground on Friday mornings. This delightful regional market features a variety of exceptional producers, including Brunswick Seed Oysters and Byron Grass Fed beef. Coopers Shoot Tomatoes, Crabbes Creek Woodfired sourdough, and Coopers Shoot Tomatoes. Enjoy okonomiyaki at Japanese Kitchen, along with a Jungle Juice smoothie, made from fresh fruit that was sourced the morning before.
Carriageworks Farmers Market Eveleigh / Gadigal Country NSW
This 76-stall market is a Sydney culinary institution. It’s held every Saturday morning at Eveleigh Railway Workshops. A wide range of award-winning brands are represented at the market, including LP’s Quality Meats and Berkelo breads as well as Country Valley Dairy, Kurrawong Organics and Pepe Saya cultured Butter. Flour and Stone’s beloved baked goods are a favorite of Chef Luke Powell.
Rusty’s Market Cairns/ Gimuy Qld
This 180-stall tropical market is held in a warehouse in central Cairns every Friday through Sunday. It features a riot of colours and a dazzling array of scents. Cut watermelon is a popular choice alongside mangosteens, rambutans and lychees. All of these items are grown by local farmers who have been attending the market for over 25 years. You can also order a delicious Saigon Hut green Papaya salad from the dining room, and a sugarcane juice to wash it down.
Noosa Farmers Market, Gubbi Gubbi Country, Qld
The Sunday morning market, which features 90 stalls, is a true classic in the field. It draws farmers from the Sunshine Coast and Mary Valley hinterlands as well as chefs from Noosa’s finest restaurants. You will be able to take home a large bag of Noosa Red tomatoes, a heap of Noosa River mud crawls, and a kilo Mooloolaba prawns. Mick Dan, a Woombye farmer from Good Harvest Organic Farm, will also fill you with fresh salad greens. One hand is free for brunchtime steamed duck buns from Embassy XO.
Parap Village Markets Darwin/ Larrakia Country NT
Darwin is a city that has no shortage of food lovers. Every Saturday, Parap Village Markets hosts a debate about which bowl is the best. Here, stalls compete with each other for the spicy noodle soup. Mary’s Laksa is the winner, according to legend. Mary works in a mobile trailer and then serves Mary. This allows Mary to slurp, sweat, and savour a memorable culinary experience that will last a lifetime.
Margaret River Farmers’ Market, Noongar Country, WA
It’s a Saturday morning event that takes place all year, but it really gets busy in spring. The stalls grow from 35 to 60 in winter, and then increase to 60 by Christmas. They are stocked with local crops such as carrots, beets leeks, kales, cabbages, radish, potatoes, and excellent meats like Geo Organics beef and Rosa’s Ridge chicken. From September, fishermen provide fresh caught king snapper, hapuka and whiting. Start your day with breakfast, including Ma La dumplings and coffee.
