Adelaide's Top Farmers Markets: Where to Shop Local

Adelaide is home to one of Australia's finest food market ecosystems, anchored by the Central Market, genuinely one of the great covered food markets of the world, and complemented by a network of regional and neighbourhood markets that reflect South Australia's extraordinary food and wine production diversity: the Barossa, McLaren Vale, Clare Valley, the Adelaide Hills, and the Fleurieu all supply Adelaide's markets with produce of the highest quality at accessible prices.

Adelaide Central Market, the Central Market (Tuesday to Saturday) on Grote Street is the most important food retail institution in South Australia and one of Australia's most celebrated markets. The market's 80+ stalls cover the full spectrum from fresh fruit and vegetables (Marino's and Romeo's competing for the best produce), the fishmonger halls with Spencer Gulf and local seafood, the artisan cheese vendors, the smallgoods specialists, and the bakeries. The Central Market's combination of cultural diversity, produce quality, and community character is unique in Australian retail food culture.

Willunga Farmers Market, the Saturday morning Willunga market (8am to 12:30pm) in the McLaren Vale hinterland town is considered Australia's most celebrated pure farmers market, featuring exclusively direct-from-farm producers. The almond trees in blossom that surround the market in spring, the McLaren Vale wine producers selling cellar-door direct, and the quality of the stone fruit, olive oil, and artisan cheese make it worth the 45-minute drive from the city for the serious food shopper.

Barossa Farmers Market, the Saturday morning market at Vintner's Bar and Grill in Angaston (90 minutes from Adelaide) provides access to the full Barossa food and wine ecosystem: German-heritage smallgoods, Barossa Valley Cheese Company products, biodynamic wine sales direct from producers, and the full range of Barossa smallholding produce.

Aldgate Farmers Market, the Adelaide Hills Saturday market in Aldgate provides the closest farmers market experience to the city, with Hills producers selling strawberries, apples, artisan cheeses, and the produce of the cool-climate growing region 30 minutes from the CBD.