Fresh Produce in Sydney

Sydney is full of seriously good restaurants and one of the reasons for their acclaim is the produce they source. The fresh bounty in NSW knows no bounds; it includes everything from plump Pacific oysters to sweet summer cherries. Foodies flock to the numerous farmers markets to fill their baskets and chat to the producers who grow their food.

Friends enjoying a visit to the Carriageworks Farmers Markets, Eveleigh

Weekend farmers markets

Ditch the supermarkets and shop in the open air. On Saturdays, start the day at Carriageworks Farmers Market in Eveleigh, a sprawling affair with everything from fresh produce to organic meat, plus food stalls. The Orange Grove Organic Food Market in Lilyfield is a local favourite with a community feel.

The Sydney Sustainable Market in Darlinghurst is also held on Saturdays. A great option for a Sunday shopping event is the eclectic Marrickville Organic Market which has live music in addition to the food on offer. Can’t make it on a weekend? Shop online at the Tramsheds Growers Market.

Cambridge Markets EQ at Moore Park, Sydney

Weekday farmers markets

Markets aren’t just a weekend event. The Rose Bay Farmers Market is held on Tuesdays, Cambridge Markets at the Entertainment Quarter is on Wednesdays, Double Bay Organic Market is on Thursdays and The Beaches Market at Warriewood, one of the biggest in Sydney, is held on Fridays.

Fishmonger holding a giant King Crab at Sydney Fish Market in Pyrmont, Sydney City

Speciality markets

The Sydney Fish Market is the largest of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere and trades about 14,500 tonnes of seafood each year. There are restaurants and a sushi bar on-site, or you can pick up fresh oysters, fish and chips, prawns and more to take away. The Sydney Vegan Market is held on the third Sunday of every month at the Entertainment Quarter.

Head Chef Tom Haynes picking out greens in the kitchen garden within Chiswick Restaurant, Woollahra in Sydney's eastern suburbs

Farm-fresh produce

There’s nothing fresher than picking it yourself. In the Hawkesbury region, on the edge of Sydney, you can pick apples, pears, mandarins, oranges, nuts, stonefruit and more (depending on the season).

Young girl holding freshly picked chestnuts at Nutwood Farm, Mount Irvine, Sydney North

Follow the Hawkesbury Harvest Farm Gate Trail to find all the best local producers. Many restaurants in Sydney champion local produce from around the State and others take it even further and grow their own. Chiswick in Woollahra has a kitchen garden you can see from the dining room.