Candelo Markets

The Candelo Market is held on the first Sunday each month on the banks of the Candelo River. It is easy to find sprawling across the park and also into the Candelo Town Hall. The only thing that may be difficult to find is a parking space nearby but there is plenty available if you are willing to walk for a block or two.

It is reputedly the biggest market on the south coast and the hype which surrounds this market is pretty justified. Even in the middle of winter when a lot of markets seem to shrink down to only the die-hard stall holders and shoppers, Candelo is still buzzing.

Fresh fruit and veges, Candelo Market

Glassware, Candelo Market 

Jewellery, Candelo Market

Fairy floss - Candelo Market

Hens for sale, Candelo Market

Candelo Market has such a huge variety of stalls, most of which offer some really unique and quality items - fresh fruit and vegetables, spices, sauces, small goods, fudge, poffertjes, spring rolls, fresh juice, coffee, toffee apples, nuts, honey....and that is just some of the food on offer. Then there are the mountains of plants including natives, fruit trees, succulents, seeds and indoor plants. There are hand made clothes, jewellery, wood furniture, glassware and seriously just about any thing else in between.

Fresh flowers, Candelo Market

Smallgoods,  Candelo Markey

Plants, Candelo Market

The other thing which made Candelo market so much fun was that everybody there seemed to be having a good time and everybody was friendly.

So when you are next in the market for pretty much anything you can imagine, you will probably be able to get it at Candelo Market.

Sauces, Candelo Market

Wooden furniture, Candelo Market 

Preserves and fragrances, Candelo market 

Spring rolls and Samosas, Candelo Markey 

Dutch Pancakes, Canelo Market

Goat milk soap, Candelo Market

Useful links:

Bega Valley.org - Candelo Market

Sapphire Coast - Candelo Market

eatstuff.blogspot.com's review - Candelo Market

Cooma Rotary Market, Cooma

Local produce, Cooma Rotary Market

The Cooma Rotary market is, not surprisingly, run by the local Rotary Club and is held on the third Sunday of each month. The market has a nice mix of food (locally grown fruit and veg, organic meat and little treats ready to eat) as well as plants, craft, clothes, jewellery and bric-a-brac. It is unexpectedly big for a country market and I have spotted a lot of the stall holders from the Canberra Rotary Farmers Market making the trip to Cooma. I have included information on some of the stallholders at the bottom of this post.

Clothes for sale, Cooma Rotary Market 

Local produce, Cooma Rotary Market

Trees for sale, Cooma Market

Centennial Park where the Cooma Rotary Market is held has some beautiful big old trees which make it quite pleasant to wander around as well as a park to keep the kids happy while you shop. One thing which made the November market distinctly 'country NSW' was the sheep being led around on a lead - in his defence, he was part of a 'guess the weight of the fleece' competition but still, not something you would expect to see at Paddy's Market in Sydney!


Cooma Rotary Market is held in Centennial Park (just off Sharp Street(Snowy Mountains Highway) in Cooma). The market runs on the third Sunday of each month.

Baked goodies, Cooma Rotary Market

Plants, Cooma Rotary Market

Candles and melts, Cooma Rotary Market

Honey, Cooma Rotary Market

Useful links:

Palarang Organic Meats


Cascades Nursery


Anthoula's Delights


Cooma Rotary Markets

Young & Region Farmers Market, Young, NSW

Coolong Gourmet sauces, Young And Region Farmers Market

The Young and Region Farmers Market is held year-round on the first and third Saturdays of the month. The Young Farmers Market can be found just outside the Young Visitor Centre in Anderson Park, Young (off Lovell Street). 

Honey, Young and Region Farmers Market 

Handmade preserves, Young and Region Farmers Market

Throughout the winter months, the market is smaller with limited fresh produce (citrus, pumpkins, rhubarb, nuts and eggs were the winter favourites) but there are plenty of fantastic baked foods, preserves, sauces, handmade pasta, plants and even locally made goats milk soap. Additionally, there is a hot food stand (BBQ) to tide you over while you browse. 

Lockwood Vineyard fresh produce, Young and Region Farmers Market

Lavender, Young and Region Farmers Market

Herbs and seedlings, Young and Region Farmers Market

As the weather warms and the stone-fruit season begins, there are more stalls to visit but at any time of the year this market is a great way to support local farmers and pick up some well priced locally grown and made treats. 

Dunkell Dairy Goats soap, Young and Region Farmers Market

Dunkell Dairy Goats soap - Young and Region Farmers Market

Useful links:


Visit Young


Australian Farmers Market Association

Coolong Gourmet


Get it all done in Young - Lockwood Vineyard

Capital Region Farmer's Market, Canberra

Beetroot - Capital Region Farmer's Market, Canberra

The Capital Region Farmer's Market is run by the Rotary Club of Hall. It is held on Saturdays from 8am - 11am at EPIC in Canberra. I had heard big things about this market but the sheer quantity of food on offer still took me by suprise. The market was jam-packed with shoppers and there really was something for everyone including fruit, veg, honey, wine, meat, bread, trees, herbs and even chickens!



Mushrooms, Capital Region Farmers Market, Canberra



The prices at the market are reasonable with costs similar to that in supermarkets. The difference is in the taste - fresh, flavourful, fabulous!! If you are near Canberra on a Saturday morning, I recommend popping in for a browse but be warned - you wont leave empty handed!

Potatoes - Capital Region Farmer's Market, Canberra

Fresh fruit is best!

Over the past week, I have been given the most delicious assortment of apples, zucchini and figs grown by friends. To look at, they are far from perfect but take a bite and they are truly beautiful.


Fresh Apples and Zuchinni



As I munched my tart, tasty apple, I got to wondering why it was full of flavour while the ones I got from the supermarket tasted like nothing. The answer was not too hard to find - supermarkets are using all sorts of tricks to preserve the 'fresh' fruit and vegetables we are buying including the addition of chemicals which slow mould growth and ripening but also block compounds which lead to the development of flavour. CHOICE has more details on how our fruit, vegetables and meat are being manipulated here.



Local Apples



Of course, it is not always possible to get things straight from the tree or ground but the moral to the story is where you can, choose fresh, local produce which is in season. By doing this you get more taste, more nutritional benefit and support local growers. There are Farmers and Growers Markets springing up everywhere - the Australian Farmers Market Association has a list on their website. Give them a try and taste the difference!



Fresh lemons from my tree




Funny Lemon