Capital Region Farmers Market celebrates 20 years in 2024. That’s 20 years supporting farmers, makers, growers and producers of the Canberra Region. That’s 20 years providing Canberrans and their families with the best and freshest produce each weekend. And that’s 20 years supporting worthy community projects via the Market Founders, Rotary Club of Hall.
“It’s been a very fulfilling 20 years for Market organisers who started out in 2004 with just 15 stalls and around 850 customers. Today we have over 130 stallholders on our books and welcome up to 6,000 visitors through the gates each Saturday,” said Capital Region Farmers Market Manager, Sarah Power.
“All our visitors have contributed immensely to what is a warm, buzzing and welcoming Market, but more importantly, a Market that truly makes a difference. Over the past 20 years, Capital Region Farmers Market has provided close to $4 million in funding to local, regional, national and international projects via its Founder, Rotary Club of Hall,” Sarah continued.
Market organisers have been reflecting on the past two decades and the many ups and downs that have brought the Market stallholders and regular customers together each week. There’s been everything from live cooking demonstrations, celebrity chefs including Stephanie Alexander and Antonio Carluccio, a Market recipe book, buzzing celebrations for World Bee Day, two relocations out to GIO Stadium, a young chef competition and grants to support local schools in their food and farming endeavours.
“We weathered the Covid-19 pandemic when many did not, continuing to support our farmers and their families, and never wavering in providing Canberrans with the best and freshest food each week. We supported our many stallholders through drought and the devastating bushfires of Summer 2019/20, meaning they could come back to us once they rebuilt,” Sarah reflected.
During its time, the Market has been home to over 600 stallholders, including local and regional farmers from in and around the Canberra region and further afield. Original stallholders from that very first Market include Homeleigh Grove, Mowbray Park Produce, Bryan Loader, Jindebah Hills Coffee and Treetops Apples.
Capital Region Farmers Market is open Saturdays throughout the year, 7am-11.30am at Exhibition Park in Canberra. The Market’s 20th Birthday celebrations will take place on Saturday 16 March.
For more information, visit; www.capitalregionfarmersmarket.com.au
- Exhibition Park in Canberra (EPIC)
- T: 0400 852 227 (Market Manager)
- E: [email protected]
- W: capitalregionfarmersmarket.com.au
