Welcome to the Central Coast Farmers Market Guide.
If you’ve never ventured out of the supermarket to buy your food on a regular basis, it can be quite a daunting transition at first, especially if you don’t know what the alternatives are. For the past two weeks, we’ve been discussing the myriad of benefits that come with buying most of your food in season from local growers, and this week we’re focusing on how to change your shopping habits.
If you’re reading this as a Central Coast resident, rest assured this transition could be easier than you think. You may not have even been aware of the fact that we are living on a dinner plate! Unbeknownst to many locals, we are surrounded by passionate small-scale farmers in the hinterland of the fertile coastline who are producing some of the best quality farm and animal products right on our doorstep.
Here are some of the options available to you as you begin to think outside the supermarket aisles.
Central Coast Farmers Markets
A great way to discover your local growers and growers, as well as learn about what’s currently in season, is to attend some of the different farmers markets in your area and we’ve got some great options right here on the coast! Below is a list of all of our local Central Coast Farmers Markets.
‘REKO rings’ are a new take on traditional farmers markets and were originally developed in Finland. Now we have one of our own, operating here on the Central Coast. You can order and chat with multiple local farmers through a closed Facebook group and pick up at one location.
Alternate Thursday REKO Ring, Tuggerah and Erina
Gosford Town Farmers Market, Sundays 8am-1pm, Gosford
Avoca Beach Farmers Market Wednesdays 4pm-5:30pm, Like Minds Café, Avoca
Avoca Beachside Market every fourth Sunday from 9 am to 2 pm
The markets of the entrance Saturdays from 9 am to 2 pm, the entrance (minimum products)
To buy online
Buying online, whether directly from a farmer or through a supplier, is one of the most convenient ways to support locals without having to think too hard. Once again, we are spoiled for choice in this domain with so many of our Central Coast farmers now offering this option.
- Nurtured Earth Organics – wide range of products, delivered weekly
- Mountain Fresh Farm – wide range of produce, delivered weekly
- Delightfully Fresh Organics – Organic produce and seeds, delivered weekly
- Farm Fresh 2 U – fresh produce, delivered daily
- Full Circle Farm: animal products, delivered bi-weekly
- Grace Springs Farm: animal products, delivered bi-weekly
- The Food Farm: animal products, delivered bi-weekly
- The Ethical Farmers: Animal Products, Delivered Weekly
- Silver Gully Farm: bulk meat packs, every few months
- Horseshoe Valley Farm – honey, lamb and biltong, delivered weekly
- Green Leaf Farms – Fresh Microgreens, Delivered Weekly
- Belly Full Farm: seasonal products, delivered weekly
Farm Gate/Food Clubs
Here is a list of all the small farmers currently offering their produce from roadside or farm gate stalls. Many of these families also offer regular farm tours, so be sure to follow their social channels for details throughout the year.
- Full Circle Farm, Jilliby
- Alan Foods, Jilliby
- The bountiful farm, Jilliby
- Farm to home, Home to home
- Farm belly full, door to door
- Grace Springs Farm, Kulnura
- The Food Farm, Yarramalong
- Piecitos Gourmet, Ourimbah
- Fanelli Organics, Mangrove Mountain
- Deliciously Fresh Organic Produce, Mangrove Mountain
- Mushrooms Margins, Woy Woy
- The Nut Lady, Somersby
- Fresh produce from Moore Farm, Wollombi
Other farms, supplying markets only:
cooperatives
Co-ops are a fantastic way to save money on fresh and dry produce. The more established ones here on the coast offer organic food at wholesale prices.
- FIG (Food Integrity Group), Ourimbah
- PEG (Peninsula Environment Group), Woy Woy
- Box Divvy: with hubs in Green Point and Woy Woy
Retail, drinks and more
- Plus organic, Erina
- La Tartine Bakery, Somersby
- Little Creek Cheese, Wyong Milk Factory
- Soul Food Cafe and Grocery Store, Woy Woy
- Mountain Farmers Market, Peats Ridge
- Sciberras Produce, Kulnura
- East Coast Drinks, Kulnura
- Firescreek Winery, Holgate
- Botanical Distillery, Erina
- Six String Brewing Co, Erina
- Bay Rd Brewery, Gosford
- Central Coast Brewery, Tuggerah
Well, I hope this list inspires you to break away from your supermarket, or at least try something different and discover the joy that comes from supporting local and helping to co-create a thriving local food system.
We will be expanding this guide in the coming months, so if you have any suggestions in this regard, please contact us by sending an email to info@stirringchange.com.
Georgia is a clinically trained nutritionist, whole foods chef, columnist, and mother. She has appeared on Body & Soul and had television appearances on ABC Breakfast and Studio 10 for her unique approach to food and health. Known for reinventing traditional foods for the modern kitchen, she was instrumental in a radical new approach to sports nutrition with a program for the NRL Parramatta Eels, which began her climb up the ladder in recent years. Learn more at stirlingchange.com.
