The Margaret River Region local produce is some of the best in the world.
The fresh local produce is key to many a south west chef’s award-winning success, and has been feeding Margaret River Region locals and lovers for centuries.
Want an access-all-areas pass to one of the most well-stocked natural pantries in the world? Lily Yeang shares where to go in the Margaret River Region for top-quality, farm fresh produce.
For the best in farm-fresh Margaret River local produce, head to the Saturday morning market that was voted Delicious Awards’ Most Outstanding Farmers Market in Australia. The Margaret River Farmers Market is the most genuine representation of a ‘farmers market’ I know. Featuring stalls filled with an array of foods that have come straight from local farms and kitchens, the market allows locals and visitors to chat to the farmers and producers directly before they buy. It’s a true paddock-to-basket experience that’ll feed your belly as well as your soul.
DON’T MISS: Devouring one of Margaret River Bakery’s breakfast croissants.
Address: Margaret River Senior High School, Margaret River.
Find some of the best quality foods housed under one roof at Western Growers Fresh. Open seven days a week and conveniently located along the Busselton bypass, Western Growers Fresh is a market catering for those who love to cook top quality food (and those who love eating it!). From seasonal fruit and veggies, to local cheeses, honey, baked goods and more, this market has everything to tickle the taste buds. Its range of ready to eat meals are cooked in-house and are designed for holidaymakers or locals who aren’t up for cooking, while its continental delicatessen and fresh juice bar offer an easy solution to lunchtime dining on the go.
DON’T MISS: Western Growers’ hearty, pre-made beef bourguignon.
Address: 4/99 Causeway Road, Busselton.
Into permaculture? Just 4kms from Margaret River, Fair Harvest features regenerative gardens, animal systems, an environmentally-friendly campground and beautiful farm walks. Established in 1995, the farm grows food holistically using permaculture principles. Come along during one of its open days to learn about permaculture and enjoy a delicious organic lunch made using ingredients from the farm’s seasonal crops, join in one of Fair Harvest’s mindfulness and nature retreats, or camp/glamp onsite. Staying the night? There’s no need to leave to get a feed – just ask the Fair Harvest team to put together a local produce box for you and your other campers.
DON’T MISS: Sharing stories and a homegrown feast around the campfire.
Address: 426 Carters Road, Margaret River.
Gathered Organics work directly with a talented bunch of over 30 growers and makers every week, all from around Margaret River and the wider southwest. The fresh produce is organic and harvested to order, sometimes only hours before it’s packed into a box. This means super fresh food, no waste and low food miles.
It’s not only fruit and vegetable boxes on offer. They also source local eggs, meat, woodfired bread, gluten free bread, olive oil, honey, bottled preserves and ferments, nuts, milk, cheese, vegan nut cheese, sweet treats (including raw and vegan), cooked meals, pantry items, skin care products, beeswax candles and even wine.
DON’T MISS: Book a delicious, feel-good box of local fruit and veg ready to eat when arrive in the region. Pick-up or delivery on Thursday or Friday. Or just drop into their shop Tuesday to Saturday between 7am and 2pm.
Address: Gathered Organics, 401 Wallcliffe Rd, Margaret River WA 6285
Get your seafood fix at Oceans Fresh Seafood, the sister business to Gold Plate award-winner Blue Manna Bistro. This Dunsborough fishmonger sells fish caught around the south west by local fishermen. Depending on what bites, expect to find pink snapper, dhufish, nannygai, black ass, hapuka, big eyed trevalla and more in-store. Oceans Fresh also stock Manjimup marron, Rottnest Island scallops and new season prawns. Hankering for fish and chips? They do takeaway too! Think your traditional seafood baskets, plus bento boxes, sashimi, nasi goreng and karage squid.
DON’T MISS: Knocking back a dozen oysters Kilpatrick before cooking some dhu fish on the barbecue.
Address: 2/16 Cyrillean Way, Dunsborough.
Everything about The Berry Farm is splendid. Its country gardens, its range of jams and preserves, its sparkling fruit, dessert and fortified wines, and its fairy wrens. Come along to the 2019 WA Region Country Wide Café of the Year to pick up your condiment staples, then stay for breakfast, lunch or afternoon tea (scones and strawberry jam, anyone?). Kids in tow? The Berry Farm has three playgrounds, a giant chess set and plenty of farm animals to keep all the little monkeys busy.
DON’T MISS: The Berry Farm’s boysenberry pie, filled with plump boysenberries and topped with fluffy whipped cream.
Address: 43 Bessell Road, Rosa Glen.
Oh honey! How I love thee . . . And lucky for me, The Colony Concept has plenty of it. From the team behind Southern Forests Honey, The Colony Concept is home to a bee farm, restaurant, retail store and playground (designed by and for kids). Its “petal to pot” concept means you can taste more than 10 local varieties of honey, as well as locally produced mead, while gaining a unique insight into their sustainable and holistic production. The Colony Concept’s restaurant menu features a farmers market shopping list of south west produce, while their retail store offers plenty of local goodies for you to take home and eat.
DON’T MISS: Adding a slab of natural honeycomb, harvested fresh from The Concept’s beehives, to your next cheese platter.
Address: 62 Harmans Mill Road, Metricup.
If you’re searching for all things wholefoods, visit The Shed Markets. A marketplace made by and for locals, The Shed (literally a rustic shed in Abbey) houses a number of small businesses, including fruit and vegetable store Provenance Farm Stall and plant-based shop LifeForce Wholefoods. Outside, find Eat Street, a food truck-style dining venue that plays host to some of the region’s most popular roving eateries, including High On Fire and Mattia Italian Vibes (which makes giant buckwheat wraps filled with plenty of good things).
DON’T MISS: A healthy and nourishing breakfast featuring Golden Granola –chai-spiced, myrtle-infused granola that tastes divine and is packed with anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatories – which you can get from LifeForce.
Address: 4 Skiff Way, Abbey.
Stepping into Margaret River Providore is a local produce paradise, with vast shelves filled with a veritable treasure trove of delicious small batch products and award-winning wines. Sample your way through the tasty treats on offer before DIY’ing an epic platter or picnic spread, using the homemade chutneys and marinated Kalamata olives picked from their on-site olive grove. Finish your visit with a wander through their organic veggie garden, where they grow a lot of the ingredients for their products.
DON’T MISS: The indulgent and moreish passionfruit curd, which uses organic eggs from their free-range chickens.
Address: 448 Tom Cullity Drive, Metricup.
It’s clear that Petra Estate’s olive oils are a labour of love, with each step of production meticulously designed to ensure the most flavoursome result. Their olive groves were first planted in 1999 and include 1,200 trees of different olive varieties that are hand harvested and blended on-site to create their award-winning Extra Virgin Olive Oils. Even better, Petra’s olive oils consistently achieve very high levels of polyphenols, or antioxidants, which have numerous health benefits.
DON’T MISS: Their famous ‘black oil’ which combines black olive tapenade with extra virgin olive oil – Perfect stirred through pasta.
Address: 251 Sheoak Drive, Yallingup.
The IKEA of grocery stores, the Bunbury Farmers Market features a unique layout designed for the eyes, nose and mouth. Weave (and taste) your way through aisles of colourful fruit and vegetables, in-season meats, freshly caught seafood, one of the largest ranges of WA cheeses in the country and a plethora of wholefoods, meal packs, snacks, desserts and more. Travelling from Perth to Margaret River? Instead of having to cook when you reach your accommodation, swing by the markets and choose from a huge selection of readymade family meals – think wholesome lasagnes, pastas, pies, pizzas and quiches.
DON’T MISS: Dessert! A slice of their decadent, salted caramel cheesecake is a must-try.
Address: 2 Vittoria Road, Glen Iris.
