Seven of Victoria’s best farmers’ markets

BUY fresh local produce from those who make it at one of the many farmers’ markets held each weekend around Victoria. Here are seven to put in your diary.

Talbot Farmers' Market.

BUY fresh local produce from those who make it at one of the many farmers’ markets held each weekend around Victoria. Put these ones in your diary for next weekend.

Yarra Valley Regional Farmers’ Market

The historic barn at Yering Station hosts the Yarra Valley Regional Farmers Market on the third Sunday each month. This is said to be Victoria’s longest running monthly market and locals and visitors alike visit the picturesque market site to buy their fill of fresh fruit and vegetables, unusual jams, preserves and sauces, buffalo sausages, fruit vinegars, homemade pasta and more.

A stall at Gasworks Farmers Market, Albert Park.

Gasworks Farmers’ Market

It might be a way from farmland but the Gasworks Farmers Market, held on the third Saturday of each month at Albert Park’s Gasworks Art Park, is full of locally produced fare. Among the favourites are Glenora Heritage Produce vegetables, Gundowring ice cream, Bultarra saltbush lamb and Holy Goat cheese. Gasworks Farmers Market is plastic bag free, so make sure you bring your own bags to tote your purchases home.

Talbot Farmers' Market, near Ballarat.

Talbot Farmers’ Market

More than 100 suppliers set up stall early on the third Sunday of each month at Talbot Farmers’ Market, just 40 minutes north of Ballarat. Stallholders make and sell everything from flaxseed oil and cheeses to honey, wine and organic fruit and vegetables. The Town Hall Market is held on the same day next to the farmers market so you can also shop for books, toys, crafts, clothes and more.

Boroondara Farmers’ Market

Producers from across the state bring their wares to Boroondara Farmers Market on the third and fifth Saturday of the month. This inner city market, at Patterson Reserve in Hawthorn East, sells produce from across Victoria including fresh fruit and vegetables, meat, organic produce, herbs, honey, eggs, bread, olives, cakes, dips and sauces, even wine and beer from small craft brewers. Talk to the producers and learn how your favourite foods are made.

Shoppers check out preserves at the Echuca farmers’ market.

Echuca Farmers’ Market

Echuca’s Alton Reserve becomes a marketplace on the first, third and fifth Saturday of each month when producers from across the north of the state converge on the historic port town. The market boasts olives, cheese, fruit, bread, wines, sweets, jams and specialty soaps and goods produced in the Murray region.

Riddells Creek Farmers’ Market

Riddells Creek Primary School hosts a monthly farmers’ market on the third Saturday of the month. Just north of Melbourne, in the foothills of the Macedon Ranges, this six-year-old market has an average of 25 stallholders and community groups taking part each month. Producers from the region have their freshest goods for sale and there’s also a community barbecue, live music and free face painting.

Grab great organic produce at any of Victoria’s farmers’ markets.

Flemington Farmers’ Market

Flemington Farmers’ Market is Melbourne’s only weekly market and is held each Sunday in the grounds of Mt Alexander Secondary College, 175 Mt Alexander Rd, Flemington. Producers from across the state bring their goods to town, and you can even check www.flemingtonfarmersmarket.com.au for an updated list of stalls each week to plan your shopping trip accordingly.