Where to buy farm-direct in Southern Adelaide
Published on 02 February 2024
Are you looking to embrace a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle while supporting your local community?
One of the simplest, yet most impactful ways is to buy farm-direct produce.
Not only does buying direct ensure you get to enjoy the freshest, most nutritious fare (that also racks up very few food miles), it gives you the opportunity to get out and discover the incredible array of producers you never knew existed.
And with so many of them right on our doorstep, it’s easy to track down the best of the best when it comes to farm-direct produce in southern Adelaide.
From the Rusty Rose Flower Farm in Aldinga Beach, known for its gorgeously eye-catching floral arrangements - grown chemical-free and sold 24 hours a day from a farmgate stall on the side of Button Road - to the family-run McCarthy's Orchard in McLaren Vale offering a delightful selection of wines, ciders and seasonal fruits, the variety is endless.
Imagine hosting a long, lazy brunch, serving up locally made wines like Grenache Gris or Rosé, alongside a platter of juicy farm-grown fruits… all against a backdrop of beautiful seasonal blooms - bliss!
Speaking of unique local experiences, Paper Shell Farm in Willunga is a must-visit. Here, you can indulge in their "Almond Door" experience every Friday night with a bowl of hand-harvested roasted almonds by your side and a glass of their signature Shiraz in hand.
Two more local superstars, The Bulk Cellar in Maslin Beach and Heart & Whole Bulk Foods in Port Noarlunga are both on a mission to help eliminate single use plastic packaging and promote a more sustainable way of living by offering a range of bulk pantry wholefoods, personal care and home cleaning products.
Bring your own jars or containers and fill them up with organic pasta, lentils or vinegar, grab some natural cleaning supplies and even find something to pamper yourself, all while supporting an affordable, zero-waste philosophy.
When it comes to fresh produce, it’s Village Greens of Willunga Creek that instantly comes to mind.
An initiative of the Aldinga Arts EcoVillage, their approach to small-scale organic farming not only ensures the health of the soil, but also provides some of the freshest, most flavoursome fruit and veggies in the region. And with the option to create your own box, you can order all the garden-fresh veggies you like and have them delivered straight to your door.
Looking for something a little more specific?
With a variety of native, gourmet & medicinal mushrooms - like Lion's Mane, Pink Oyster and Golden Enoki - funghi fans will drool over the sheer variety on offer at Choice Mushrooms. A favourite among chefs and customers alike, sustainable farming practices mean their mushrooms aren’t just a delicious delight, but environmentally friendly too.
For those with a penchant for heat, Whites Valley Jalapeños offers a huge range of handmade, small-batch chilli condiments. From fiery hot sauces and zesty salsa to mellow marmalades, spicy salts and their signature Sweet Jalapeño Mustard, home-grown chillies are the secret behind their award-winning range.
If eggs are a staple each week, Feather & Peck in Willunga offer an ethical paddock-to plate philosophy.
Setting a high standard in the regenerative farming realm, their pasture-raised hens, fed on fresh grass, have loads of space to roam and peck freely – scratching, digging and fertilising the soil in the most natural way possible. And when you’ve got happy, healthy hens? You get tastier, more nutritious (award-winning) eggs.
Of course, if something sweet is more your thing, then Bee Happy Honey is definitely worth seeking out. Family-run with a range of premium raw honey and pure honeycomb straight from the hive, you can pick up their seriously luscious offerings at markets all over the city as well as from their home base in Port Noarlunga.
And finally, the pièce de resistance of farm-direct in Onkaparinga - the famous Willunga Farmers Market. Running every Saturday morning - rain, hail or shine - for over two decades, this market truly is a mecca for those seeking straight-from-the-farm, seasonal produce down south. With more than 80 stalls, it’s easy to spend a few hours getting lost in the atmosphere while discovering all its delights.
From dairy, bread, meat and cheese to native foods, flowers, confectionery and craft, there’s no better place to connect with local growers, taste new flavours and enjoy the incredible local bounty on offer.
The City of Onkaparinga is brimming with farm-direct producers, each offering unique, high-quality and sustainably sourced products.
So next time you’re planning your weekly shop, remember the abundance that exists right on your doorstep, and go local!
Discover farm-direct producers in southern Adelaide:
Image courtesy of Willunga Farmers Market