Canberra’s Best Farmers Markets and What to Buy This Winter

On a crisp Saturday morning in July, the carpark at Exhibition Park in Mitchell is already bustling by sunrise. The Capital Region Farmers Market, one of Canberra’s largest, fills not only with local growers but with customers clutching reusable bags, all seeking the freshest of the ACT’s winter bounty.

With Canberra’s chillier months in full swing, many residents are turning to local farmers markets to access both nutrient-rich produce and the reassurance of buying direct from growers. Dietitians report that eating with the seasons – and, crucially, eating foods grown nearby – can have significant health benefits, including maximising nutrient intake and minimizing processed food consumption. Amid ongoing national conversations about food security and cost of living, fresh, affordable produce is front of mind across the city.

From Mitchell to Manuka: Markets to Visit

The Capital Region Farmers Market, at EPIC on Flemington Road, is one of the ACT’s best-known sources of seasonal fruit and vegetables. Here, over 100 stallholders gather each Saturday, offering everything from just-dug potatoes to local free-range eggs. Winter shoppers this month will find mounds of Tuscan kale (around $3 a bunch), leeks, Brussels sprouts, and Canberra Pink Lady apples – all grown within two hours of the city. The stall from Torrens’ Songbird Strawberries, for example, features jars of jam alongside their famous cold-season rhubarb, which pairs perfectly with porridge on a frosty morning.

On Sundays, Haig Park Village Markets transform the Braddon end of the city. While smaller than Mitchell’s megamarket, Haig Park vendors highlight specialty goods and organic produce. This July, look for stalls selling local honey harvested just past Murrumbateman (from $8/500g jar), pesticide-free silverbeet, and bright mandarins trucked in from Batlow. Organisers say attendance now averages over 3,000 per month, even in winter – a nod to the market’s popularity for families seeking a local grocery experience or a healthy brunch from the food vans parked under the gums.

The Nutritional and Community Impact

The big draw for many shoppers is freshness and price. According to the 2025 ACT Health Report, 44% of Canberra adults say they visit a farmers market at least once a month – and more than half report eating more vegetables as a result. Produce costs remain competitive: at last weekend’s Capital Region Farmers Market, biodynamic carrots were selling at $4 a kilo, while supermarkets in Dickson listed conventional carrots at $3.80–$4.20, minus the direct-from-farm assurance. Many stallholders also take part in the Canberra City Farm program, which promotes sustainable agriculture and donates excess produce to local charities, including OzHarvest ACT.

There’s evidence that buying in-season supports not just nutrition, but local livelihoods. Canberra’s winter harvest hits its stride now: root vegetables, cabbages, apples, pears, and hardy herbs are at their peak. Stallholders encourage shoppers to ask what’s just been picked; even classic winter staples like parsnips are sweeter after the first frosts.

Your Next Market Morning

For Canberrans keen to boost their fruit and veg intake, sticking to what’s fresh and local is key. At this time of year, fill your basket with leafy winter greens, pumpkins, apples, and farm eggs. Take a thermos, arrive early for the best selection, and speak with growers about how to store or cook unfamiliar items. If braving the cold isn’t for you, ACT government’s ‘Good Food in the Hood’ directory lists smaller neighbourhood markets popping up in suburbs such as Belconnen and Kingston, offering flexibility for busy schedules.

Above all, regular trips to the markets can be both a health commitment and a community ritual. Next Saturday may be chilly, but shoppers leaving Mitchell or Braddon will depart with more than a week’s groceries: they’ll carry home the flavour of Canberra’s farms, fresh from the source.