Local markets: Prahran Market, Queen Victoria Market, Oakleigh Market, Akoonah Park, Mornington Main St

The weekly shop doesn’t have to bust your budget with the cost of goods surging. Find out how you can save money while still feeding the family.

Alex Ali, who runs Eat More Fruit, at South Melbourne Market has got great prices on celery and cauliflower. Picture: Nicki Connolly

Cash-strapped Melburnians are ditching mainstream shopping centres for local markets for the weekly shop as the cost of produce soars.

Queen Victoria Market chief executive Stan Liacos confirmed there had been a surge of bargain-hunters in the past month as shoppers look for relief from rising living costs.

“The nature of our traders, they’re small independent businesses who buy consistently and regularly at best available prices. They’re not locked into contracts like supermarkets are across the country,” he said.

Queen Victoria Market hosts about 600 stalls, with roughly 200 fresh food traders and had “clusters of intense competition”.

“When you’re walking into a market you’re not just looking at one business like you are in a supermarket, you’re looking at, in the case of food, about 200. People will see avocados from two stalls of the same quality and of course, they’ll buy the cheaper option.”

South Melbourne Market’s Eat More Fruit owner Alex Ali said he expected a huge increase in shoppers in the next two weeks, and was already noticing more customers looking for a bargain. Shoppers Kayla and Rohan Teasdale said the rise in prices had changed their shopping habits.

“We have been buying simply what we need, rather than doing things spontaneously.” Mr Teasdale said.

Kayla and Rohan Teasdale shopping for fruit and veggies at the South Melbourne Market. Picture: Nicki Connolly

Prahran Market general manager Issac Tait said he had noticed a wider group of customers visiting the market for cheaper prices on pantry staples, fresh produce and meats.

“People are looking to get their staple fruit and veg, deli items as well as increasingly opting for the lesser common cuts of meat, poultry, and fish varieties, which offer greater value,” he said.

“With recent price rises elsewhere, we have had feedback from customers that they appreciate the reliability that comes with our traders working so closely with their producers and suppliers.

“Our local residents know that they can rely on the market for good quality produce and prices that are consistent.”

Punters are hitting Prahran Market to get cheaper goods compared to the supermarket giants. Picture: Josie Hayden

Oakleigh Market manager Guy Tartaro said shopping at suburban markets dotted around Melbourne would help reduce your shopping bill.

“If you do a comparison of the majors (supermarkets) we’re cheaper and the quality is very good,” he said.

“We’re selling lettuce for $4.99 each — you’re paying double if not more than that at some supermarkets.

Oakleigh Market has plenty of good deals on fruit and vegetables. Picture Andrew Tauber

“We try to source products at the cheapest prices and make it affordable for people.”

Thomas Li, Footscray Market’s manager, said customers numbers had increased.

“We’re able to keep prices lower than competitors because our stalls also sell wholesale to stores and restaurants,” he said.

“Buying in bulk, low overheads and competition within the market means our customers get the best deal.”

Mr Li said some price rises had been inevitable as inflation impacts supply lines, but pointed to salmon as an example of how the market is staying competitive.

“We used to sell salmon for $21 per kilogram and now it‘s gone up to $24 but compared to other places we’ve seen it selling for $34 a kilogram it’s still very low,” he said.

Alex Alexopoulos of Alexander Produce at Dandenong Market, said shopping at a local market could save you $100 on your weekly shop.

“And the produce is fresh daily,” he said.

Shoppers loading up on some bargains at Queen Victoria Market. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Sarah Matray

Stall holders at Mornington Main Street Market, which is open every Wednesday, have noticed a surge in customers

One stall holder said she had noticed a spike in interest when supermarket prices started to climb.

“We’ve been busier than ever before, even in the summer when there are loads of tourists around,” she said.

“The locals are coming to find cheaper, good quality fruit and veg. Our Dutch carrots ($4 a large bunch), Roma tomatoes ($4 a bag) and Haas avocados (3 for $5) have been popular.

“We just hope that people continue to support the market, now they have discovered how good it is.”

You need to be quick, however, with fresh produce usually sold out before the market closes at 2pm.

Akoonah Park Sunday Market manager Gayle Joyce said store holders were able to keep their prices lower than the supermarket giants because overheads were much less.

“Our sellers have had consistent sales and have so far kept their prices the same. I would assume that is because their overheads are a lot less than supermarkets — they don’t have to worry so much about transporting their goods long distances, or the amount of people between them and their customers — it’s very direct,” she said.

Geoff Rankin, manager of the Farmers Market at the Old Cheese Factory in Berwick, said floods in southern Queensland and NSW had impacted fruit and vegetables prices at supermarkets.

“Our local growers don’t have that issue,” he said.

“A grower from one of our markets’ over the weekend was selling lettuce heads for $3.00. They haven’t had to increase their prices, and have chosen not to take advantage of the current state of the market because most of our shoppers are regulars.”