Farmers Markets

Now this is not an easy task. Farmers’ markets are by nature full of quality produce and enthusiastic stall holders. They know their onions and beans, fish and needlecraft, and take great pride in offering you superb products at competitive prices. Naming the best such markets risks the wrath of those not on the list. But here goes.

First it’s important to know that many farmers’ markets are not well-known. There are some which have a reputation and are spoken of highly in tourist sites. But often it is the local market, run by residents in a quiet rural township which offers first class goods at excellent prices. If you are visiting a different area in Australia, ask the locals about their farmers’ market. You may uncover a gold mine.

Adelaide is a capital city but that doesn’t mean the farmers won’t come to town. They do with the Adelaide Central Market which has been operating for more than 150 years. South Australia is famous for its wines and this market with its almost 100 stalls will give wine lovers and foodies plenty to explore and taste. The oysters and cheese aren’t half bad either.

Margaret River in the south of Western Australia there is a farmers’ market to die for. The milk comes from the most contented of cows which means produce like cheese and ice-cream - yes, ice-cream at a market - has a superb reputation. It’s a relatively new market, open on Saturday mornings and has some of the most unusual but best products around including chocolate, pecans, olive oil and soap.

Inverloch is a coastal town in Gippsland, Victoria. The market there is only once a month but when you know that the rolling hills and lush pastures of the Bass region are perfect for fresh meat, fruit and vegetables, a trip to this market is well worth the effort. This is a perfect example of how farmers’ markets have grown from bringing city folk and rural producers together, which they still do, to providing all consumers with valuable information about how food is grown and manufactured so that shoppers can shop with confidence when looking for the healthy alternatives.

You can’t get more inner city than The Rocks in Sydney but strangely enough it’s also home to a bustling farmers’ market. In fact the stallholders are so proud of the word ‘local’ in describing their produce, they tell you how far from their stall the food was grown. It’s a great market for locals and a fabulous tourist destination for visitors.

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