There’s nothing like talking to the farmer who’s grown your produce to gain an understanding of its provenance, as well as tips on how to cook it. Understandably, proud growers are always up for a chat. Part of the fun of a market is that social aspect, whether it’s the chance to catch up with friends or meet the people feeding you, cutting out the middle men who normally make the most money from a farmer’s labours. We’ve tasted the best lamb of our life from a biodynamic farmer at Eveleigh Markets and a bunch of flowers always cheers up the day.
If you want to see the lifeblood of Sydney’s markets in full swing, we can recommend tours of the Sydney Market at Flemington (9360 7620) and the Sydney Fish Market (9004 1143). We’ve singled out the best for listing here, but you’ll find more details, especially for regional markets at these websites: www.farmersmarkets.org.au; and if your focus is organics, visit www.organicfoodmarkets.com.au.
EQ Village Markets
This pioneering market started long before many newer produce markets popped up, altering the way many of us shop. And while it is still going strong, it has its pluses and minuses. In the positive ledger are the quality stalls, which include Formaggi Ocello for cheese, Pasta Emilia for organic pasta, and great fresh seafood from Barry Rallis’ The One That Got Away. A negative, though, is the dearth of genuine local farm-fresh produce stalls (some items here are brought in from interstate) and the large kids’ entertainment area beside the venue, which means parents tend to spend their money on rides rather than fresh food.
MOORE PARK
Entertainment Quarter, Lang Road
8117 6700
Wed 10am–3.30pm; Sat 10am–3.30pm;
Sun 10am–4pm
Map BONDI REGION
Eveleigh Farmers’ Market
Every week this market in the former blacksmith’s shed next to the Carriageworks bustles with organic farmers, ice-cream makers, butchers, wine growers and chefs. We found organic baby zucchini, zucchini flowers, potted herbs, a vast display of mushrooms, Sonoma breads, smoked trout from Brilliant Food, Rosnay organic wines, and even gourmet foodie treats for dogs. Alex Herbert from Bird Cow Fish is there with chocolate brioche, banana bread stars, zucchini and walnut bread, and cups of hot porridge and made-to-order omelettes. There’s artisan cheese and Pat and Stick’s ice-cream sandwiches, as well as half carcasses of lamb that are cut up for thrifty bulk buyers with good freezer space.
DARLINGTON
243 Wilson Street • 9209 4220
Sat 8am–1pm
Map INNER SOUTH
Hawkesbury Harvest Farmers’ & Fine Food Markets
Since publication last year, these markets have sadly said farewell to their Rouse Hill outpost, but are still operating at three locations each month: Penrith (1st Saturday), Castle Hill (2nd Saturday) and Richmond (2nd Saturday). With around 120 stallholders on the books, the line-up changes month to month and, as you’d hope from purveyors of fresh produce, from season to season. Stop by for cheeses from Willowbrae and Cheese Please; baked goods from Sonoma and La Tartine; and meats from Saltbush Meats and Pepe’s Ducks. Check the website for full details.
PENRITH
High Street (near Joan Sutherland Performing Arts Centre) • 0406 237 877
1st Sat of each month (except Jan) 8am–1pm
Marrickville Organic Food Market
This laid-back community market seems to be growing week by week, with shoppers turning up for the excellent produce and family-friendly atmosphere. While the kids are wearing themselves out on the jumping castle, parents can load up on chemical-free tomatoes, salad greens, heirloom pumpkins and seasonal stone fruit at the excellent Rita’s Fresh Produce stall. Then they can head to the Nashdale Fruit Co. stall for some brilliant pink fir, purple congo and kipfler potatoes, as well as a great range of organic and seasonal fruit. There’s also organic milk, homemade fudge and free-range bacon and egg burgers.
MARRICKVILLE
Addison Road Community Centre,
142 Addison Road • 9999 2226
Sun 8.30am–3pm
Map INNER SOUTH
Kings Cross Organic Food and Farmers’ Market
This isn’t one of Sydney’s biggest food markets, but it has enough of interest to warrant local support. There’s some excellent fresh fruit and veg at Rita’s Fresh Produce and the C & D Camilleri Produce stalls. Organics – meat and vegetables – are on offer at a variety of locations, then there’s Brasserie Bread, Toby’s Estate coffee, Francis the Fresh Fishmonger and some interesting products at the Urban Food Market outlet, which specialises in unusual or hard-to-get meats, including saltbush lamb, grass-fed wagyu, free-range pork and baby rabbit. For the peckish, there’s also homemade cakes, dumplings and gözleme (savoury Turkish pastries).
KINGS CROSS
Fitzroy Gardens, Macleay Street • 9999 2226
Sat 8am–2pm
Map INNER EAST
Northside Produce Market
This extensive market offers some of the usual suspects, including those stalls you’ll find at Eveleigh Markets and The SMH Growers’ Market, but it has also brought in some fantastic local up-and-comers this year. The 1910 Bottling Company is here from the Southern Highlands, with jars of beautifully labelled organic pickles, fruit and veg. You can now get Blood Limes’ citrus, including the hybrid native blood limes themselves, as well as things from Over The Moon Dairy, Darling Mills, Saltbush Lamb and Small Acres Cyder. This is the ultimate place to stock up the fridge, or just collect a few good things and eat them on the lawns with your morning latte.
NORTH SYDNEY
Civic Park, cnr Miller & McLaren Streets
9922 2299
3rd Sat of each month 8am–midday
Map INNER NORTH
Orange Grove Organic Food & Farmers’ Market
Salmon prosciutto to take home or bacon and egg rolls to eat on the run, Mayan chilli hot chocolates for a morning sugar hit, and suction-packed meats for a long Sunday lunch – and all of it is organic. This market is the Inner West foodie’s favourite Saturday morning routine, known for its exceptional produce and range of stalls. Drop in on Peter Hood’s mushroom stall, where you can get the peppery namenko mushroom, as well as the more common Swiss brown, shiitake, portobello and large wild pine mushrooms. He’ll tell you about texture and aftertaste, and give you a couple of fungi recipes if you ask.
LILYFIELD
Orange Grove Public School, Cnr Perry Street
& Balmain Road • 9999 2226
Sat 8am–1pm
Map INNER WEST
The SMH Growers’ Market
One of the premier growers’ markets in Sydney, this 80-plus stall outlet has all the usual suspects, with new additions arriving all the time. There’s Eumundi Smokehouse, with its pigs’ trotters and various bacons and chickens, there’s Parker’s organic juice, and Sonoma with its new Sonoma miche and mission sourdough loaves. It’s a veritable produce diversity fest. Get the very ‘now’ baby vegetables and zucchini flowers, incredible baby herbs and a vast range of greens. There’s an information stall if you’re in a rush and don’t know where to go, but how could you not be happy just browsing and getting lost in this Sydney waterfront market?
PYRMONT
Pyrmont Bay Park, Pirrama Street
1st Sat of each month 7am–11am (except Jan)
Map CITY
Paddy’s Markets (Fresh Food)
Prepare to immerse yourself elbow to elbow in determined human traffic. Close your eyes and listen to spruikers competing to be heard. Take a deep breath and absorb the tantalising aromas of fresh herbs, juicy fruit and just-picked-that-morning vegetables. At these excellent prices it’s no wonder this place is packed. Here you’ll find almost anything Asian and otherwise: bitter melon, sugar snaps, enokis and garlic flowers. It’s winter when we visit so there’s sugar bananas, nashi pears, persimmons, lychees and pomelos. Follow the ramps and you’ll find seafood, as well as a butcher who also sells small deli goods. Also at Flemington: check the website for details.
HAYMARKET
Cnr Hay & Thomas Streets
Daily 9am–5pm
Map CITY
Sydney Fish Market
Giving details about what’s available at Sydney’s biggest fish and seafood market should actually work backwards. It might be easier to say what’s not available. The Waterside Fruit Connection has a great range of fruit and veg, herbs and seasonal specials out the front, and Blackwattle Deli has cheese, prosciutto and other deli essentials sewn up. Fisherman’s Fine Wines is where you get advice on which white to have with your garlic scampi, or which red will go well with the fish stew you’re about to make. The Sydney Seafood School takes in 12,000 students a year; check the website for classes. And then there’s the fish – well just dive in and check it out yourself.
PYRMONT
Bank Street (cnr Pyrmont Bridge Road)
9004 1100
Daily 7am–4pm
Map CITY
Sydney Markets
This is where your local greengrocer shops, as do many chefs, so why not go straight to the source and bypass the middleman? The 42-hectare site sees the 5000 people who work here handle an estimated 2.5 million tonnes of fruit and vegetables every year. There are about 120 wholesalers, 394 produce growers and 172 different sellers of flowers. This is the place to get things in bulk if you’ve got the fridge, bench or freezer space. Some customers we spoke to have a neighbourhood co-op that shares the purchasing tasks, rotating weekly shop-ups for the team. Each of the sheds stocks different things and has slightly different opening hours, so phone or check the website before you go.
FLEMINGTON
Sydney Markets, off Parramatta Road
9325 6200
Warwick Farm Trackside Market
When this farmers’ market kicked off in 2003 it was a grassroots effort, and today it’s still run by farmers, mostly from around the Sydney basin, but also from as far afield as Echidna Coffee from Byron and saltbush lamb from Narromine. Some 25 stallholders appear weekly – Wanaka Orchards are there when stone fruit are in season, the Grech family and Werombi farms offer a great array of vegetables and herbs, while Marion Plains Pastoral is there with organic beef and lamb. You’ll also find candles, olive oils, dog biscuits, indoor plants, dumplings and cakes, and you’ll get to chat with the friendly people who grow the produce.
WARWICK FARM
Warwick Farm Racecourse, Governor
Macquarie Drive • 0419 142 822
www.warwickfarmtracksidemarket.com.au
Sat 8am–midday
Map WESTERN SUBURBS