Eastland Farmers Market

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A farmers market is not something you would usually expect to find in the middle of a busy shopping centre, however Eastland, the newest addition to Melbourne, has just that.



Every Sunday from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. a small farmers market is set up in the upstairs courtyard area of Eastland shopping centre near the cafes and restaurants.

Whilst it is a relatively small farmers market, the quality is incredibly impressive and the people who have the stalls are the actual growers, producers and makers and they are extremely passionate about the things they offer. Many of them are creating their produce right on the spot for you to try.

The day I visited there were food samples galore, including mandarins set up in the walkway which tasted like sunshine. Seriously, they were so good I was stopped in my tracks to embrace the flavour.

One of the cheese makers was pan frying some Halloumi cheese into saganaki and it appeared so crisp and crunchy on the outside it seemed to have been coated in something. I asked him how it was possible that it was so crunchy and he replied that it's possible as he uses pure whole milk which still has the fats and oils that allow it to have the crisp and crunch that is so delicious and sought after (it was amazing).



I had a friend's birthday coming up and decided to make a cheese platter for them. We got to try all of the different cheeses before making our selection and whilst I'm certainly not a massive cheese fan, this producer had me standing there drooling with anticipation over the wonderful varieties that were on offer. They tasted like nothing I had ever tried before. As the friend I bought them for is a cheese fanatic they were was absolutely blown away with the taste and flavours, in fact, everybody at the dinner party was marveling around the different cheeses and how good they were.

We even bought a breakfast sweet cheese made fresh that morning and filled with raisins to be spread on toast



One of the other stallholders grew their own garlic and infused different garlic salts, which we just had to bring home. Other items on offer included fresh fruits, chestnuts, homemade jams and relishes, vinegars, meats and many more varieties.

The stallholders told me that it is so popular that they do not get in every week, so they are on a rotational basis therefore you may have different stalls there when you visit.

The other thing I love about farmers markets is that you are directly supporting the locals, the growers, the makers and buying Australian. Feel good about what you're getting, with amazing flavours and great value at the same time.



MARKET INFO
When: Every Sunday from 24th April
Where: Melbourne Street and Town Square Eastland, Ringwood
Time: 9am - 2pm
Cost: FREE
Parking: Parking is available within the shopping centre. More details available HERE .

GETTING THERE
Train:
Belgrave or Lilydale Line STOP Ringwood Train Station
Bus:
Bus 364 Ringwood – Warrandyte
Bus 380 Ringwood – Croydon via Croydon and Croydon Hills
Bus 670 Ringwood – Swinburne University via Croydon & Chirnside Park
Bus 679 Ringwood – Chirnside Park via Lilydale
Smart Bus 901 Melbourne Airport – Frankston
Smart Bus 906 City – Warrandyte

Click HERE for a list of producers at each market.

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