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 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.

Guaranteeing genuine produce

The Market aims to maintain the authenticity of the products and ensure its customers’ trust through simple rules:

Stallholders are genuine producers passionate about their products.
Stalls must have signs with the name of the stallholder and approved agencies must show who grew the produce and where it was grown.
Products must be fresh.
All stallholders must carry insurance or take out daily cover from the Market.
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.

Environmental benefit

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

The Farmers Market helps substantially reduce food miles between the growers to your table. Food from the Market comes direct from the producer and in some cases has only travelled 10 kilometres, resulting in lower transport costs and carbon footprint.

The Market’s 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. 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.

All stallholders must be Producers.

All products sold must be approved by the Market Committee and are identified for each stallholder on this website.

All Producers are visited by members of the Market Committee to ensure authenticity of their produce.

All stallholders must display approved Market 'Producer product' and 'Agency product' signs.

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 8am to 11am

Location Map

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

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