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About the Market

The Capital Region Farmers Market was founded (and is managed) by the Rotary Club of Hall to:

• Provide customers with a diverse range of fresh farm and food produce straight from the producer to the consumer and an opportunity to discuss with growers and learn through weekly forays.
• Build local agri-business opportunities for regional producers to sell fresh farm and food produce.
• Provide a community dividend in the region - funds generated from the Market are fed back into regional communities and other projects chosen by the Rotary Club of Hall.

The Market provides an opportunity for Canberra and regional consumers to sample the region’s produce. It is a community project run by the not-for-profit Rotary Club of Hall, the only rural Rotary Club in the ACT.

The Club has been delighted to do something positive to underpin the growing agri-business opportunities in the region, provide a direct and unbroken link between food producers and customers, offer a great seasonal food experience to ACT residents and support important regional community projects.

Planning for the Farmers Market commenced in late 2003, when a major analysis was undertaken to determine the dynamics of farmers markets. The first Capital Region Farmers Market was held in March 2004 and was established without any financial support or grants from governments or other sources. It started with 18 stalls and some 1,000 customers, and has since grown to more than 100 stalls per week and over 5,000 customers.

The Market offers a convenient alternative to a ‘farm gate’ for some growers unable to secure on-farm sales or through retailers.

It is strictly farm/food product related. It does not permit art or craft stalls, clothing, general consumer items or imported products. The Market follows the fundamental but simple rules of authenticity, credibility and sustainability.

The region

The Capital Region Farmers Market region includes the following key production clusters - MIA, Batlow, Cowra, Orange, Young-Temora, Western Sydney, Southern Tablelands, Goulburn-Crookwell, South Coast and Monaro. These clusters have been selected to provide the Market with a low-food-mile but seasonally diverse source of produce. Producers from outside this region have been accepted in exceptional circumstances, in the best interest of the Market to achieve product diversity.

We welcome apples from Batlow, specialty meats from Grenfell, vegetables from Leeton, berries from Borenore, salads and olives from Hall, vegetables from Moruya, Picton and Leeton, mushrooms from Yass Valley, spuds, fruits, cheese, meats, nuts, breads, pasta, cordials, oranges, coffee, chocolates, cakes, honey and more.

Market Rules

The Market aims to maintain the authenticity of the products and ensure its customers’ trust through simple rules. The rules and code of conduct are applicable to all stallholders - both existing stallholders and new applicants. These rules are designed to maintain the authenticity and reputation of the Market.

• Stallholders are producers passionate about their products, who attend the Market on a regular basis.
• All stallholders must display approved Market 'Producer product' and 'Agency product' signs. Stalls must have signs with the name of the stallholder and approved agencies must show who grew the produce and where it was grown.
• All products sold must be approved by the Market Committee and are identified for each stallholder on this website.
• ACT health, fair trading and other laws must be observed, including rules relating to the labelling of products such as ‘organic’, ‘chemical free’ and others.
• Producers are visited to ensure the authenticity of their production systems and suitability for the Market.

Market Rules - Anomalies

The Market and its rules have evolved since their inception in 2004 and are constantly being updated. Consequently the Committee is continually working on the elimination of anomalies. Anomalies are currently managed under 'grand-fathered' arrangements and no further applications of associated products will be approved.

Current Market anomalies include:

• Flower products - because of seasonal constraints on flower production in the CRFM region, agencies are accepted from out of region.
• Fish products - because of sustainable fish management policies and seasonality, fish products may be sourced outside of the CRFM region (but must be from Australian waters).
• Ingredients for secondary and tertiary products - these products may include some imported products (e.g. spices, coffee beans); however priority is given to products with locally produced ingredients.
• Non-food products - some non-food products were approved early in the Market's development (e.g. soap, beeswax).
• Most stallholders are genuine producers, however Rule changes have resulted in two agency only stalls. These stalls are currently the subject of grandfathered management agreements to eliminate them from the Market.

Freshness, Quality and Environmental Benefits

Capital Region Farmers Market offers a number of benefits to consumers in addition to freshness, quality and access to a wide variety of regional and seasonal food.

The Market helps to substantially reduce food miles between the growers and your table. Food from the Market comes direct from the producer, with the majority of produce coming from less than 300 kms, resulting in lower transport costs and carbon footprint.

Competition and pricing

The Capital Region Farmers Market offers diverse quantity and quality of fresh products without restriction on price competition between stallholders. Prices are set by individual stallholders, with a premium on quality. Prices are minimised by ensuring appropriate competition within the Market.

Where and when

Exhibition Park in Canberra (EPIC).

Undercover in the large buildings at the northern end of EPIC.

Saturday 7:30 am to 11:30 am

Location Map

Click on the map buttons below for driving or walking directions:

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