As we are doing this in our spare time more details will be posted gradually.

Meanwhile the Melbourne suburban Farmers Markets listings are up and running here, plus there are some regional Victoria Farm Gate details listed at the forum. If you have a favourite market or certain stallholder you prefer share your entusiasm for them on the forum and reply to a topic on your local market.

• Melbourne Suburbs
• Melbourne Inner
• Regional Victoria
• Mornington Peninsula

Top Tips for Farmers Market Shopping

Go as early as possible
You’ll be buying from small farms, with family staffing the market stalls, so there will be a limit to how much they can fit in their van, truck or trailer. To benefit from the full range and to avoid disappointment, go first thing in the morning to benefit from the full range.

Bring your own bags
One of the aims of Farmers Markets is to be environmentally friendly, so most don’t use plastic bags, just paper and they will appreciate it if you’ve brought your own. Shoppers bring green bags, recycled plastic bags, baskets, shopping jeeps and buggies. In summer some even bring Eskys and cooler bags to stop their food from spoiling. Your egg farmer may even appreciate you recycling their cartons by returning any empties to them.

Get to know your Farmer
The Farmers have an invaluable amount of knowledge and are always up for chat. Not only can they tell you about their produce, but they will advise you on how to keep it, use it or cook it. If you’re a regular customer, some may offer you the opportunity to ring or email them to order your supplies in advance, so you don’t miss out. Feedback is often appreciated. Farmers learn a great deal about your shopping habits by coming to markets and can relay that back into their business.

Have breakfast at the market
Most markets have a breakfast grill going serving egg and bacon sandwiches or sausages, and are manned by volunteers. The produce is usually supplied by the the farmers at that market. The proceeds of your breakfast usually go to a local community charity and are another way that you can give a little bit back and invest in your community. Sitting down with an egg and bacon roll can be not only a great way to sample the produce but it’s also a great way to get to know your fellow shoppers.

Bring a smile
Some of the farmers may have left home in the middle of the night to drive four or more hours to be at the market, be kind and have a sense of humour. They may not have exactly what you were wanting, but instead there may be something else just as exciting that you might like to purchase, so it pays to go with a flexible attitude. Unlike supermarkets the produce is seasonal and constantly changing as the weather changes.