Sydney Markets, Flemington

"Celery anyone?" - vegetable providore at Sydney Markets

"Celery anyone?" - vegetable providore at Sydney Markets

Apart from weddings, funerals and special occasions, there are not many places that I would dress up for. But there is definitely one place in Sydney that I would “dress down” before the trip.

So, I am in my usual attire of a best worn T-shirt, shorts and sneakers in the middle of a Sydney winter and for good reason too. I am amongst a crowd of rambling housewives, curious tourists, hurrying cafe owners and restaurateurs pushing gigantic trolleys piled high with fresh vegetables, meat, fruits and seafood.

“Ait dolla, ait dolla, ait dolla, cheap, cheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeap, COME ONNN !!!!” yells out an orange vendor at the top of his voice.

That’s right readers, eight dollars for beautiful Australian navel oranges and that’s not eight dollars per kilo but eight dollars per box!

Citrus fruits are plentiful in the thick of winter and everything from oranges, grapefruit, blood orange, mandarins, lemons and limes are at its peak and better still, at bargain prices.

Welcome to the wholesale fresh food markets that is Sydney Markets in Flemington!

Navel oranges $8 per box

Navel oranges $8 per box

I don’t come to these markets often but I am here today to buy some vegetables for a home party and this is always an excellent place if you want to shop for larger quantities and to find bargains.

I am glad I’m in my attire because I am walking among mangled paper cartons, strewn vegetables, moving trolleys, occasional forklifts and worst of all, impatient shoppers.

Braeburn apples $12 per box

Braeburn apples $12 per box

I pick up a whole box of Fuji apples for a mere ten dollars, after a bit of bargaining from a grand price of thirteen dollars.

Yes dear readers, a whole box of at least 40 beautiful crunchy fresh apples for ten bucks!!

The vendors are generally friendly and eager to help customers who are unsure about the huge range of fruits and vegetables.

Braeburn apples $12 per box

Braeburn apples $12 per box

The Sydney Markets consists of the Sydney Produce Market, Sydney Flower Market, Sydney Growers Market and Sydney’s Paddy’s Markets. Some interesting facts about the Sydney Markets include:

  • An estimated 2.5 million tonnes of fresh fruit and vegetables are sold through the Sydney Produce Market and Sydney Growers Market annually, valued at $3 billion.
  • Approximately 1,500 traders operate within the community markets at Flemington and Haymarket in the city.
  • Around 140,000 customers shop at the markets each week.
  • Approximately 120 wholesalers, 394 produce growers and 172 flower growers-sellers and 160 supporting businesses are located at site in Flemington.

Strawberries $5 per punnet

Strawberries $5 per punnet

It is nearing the end of the strawberry season and each punnet is still a beautiful dark red of deliciously sweet fruit.

Fruit section, Sydney Markets, Flemington

Fruit section, Sydney Markets, Flemington

Even though prices are cheap, customers can still find bargains and often vendors will accede towards the end of each trading session to get rid of stock and supplies in anticipation of fresh batches to come.

Leak, coriander and shallots

Leek, coriander and shallots

I love the vegetables stalls because they look so sprightly and vibrant in all their fresh green glory.

Red capsicum $20 per box

Red capsicum $20 per box

One of my favourite recipes is to simply roast red capsicums with some extra virgin olive oil, salt and black pepper to accompany salads and roasts.

Leek $2 for 3

Leek $2 for 3

Leeks are also in season and there are at least half a dozen recipes I can think of with such beautiful vegetables.

Tomatoes $24 per box

Tomatoes $24 per box

The tomatoes are especially fresh and beautiful in their vibrant red.

Tomatoes $24 per box

Carrots $1 per kg

Carrot juice and carrot cake?

Tasmanian brown onions

Tasmanian brown onions

This could be great for French onion soup … for the next few weeks?

Rocket leaves $5 per kg

Rocket leaves $5 per kg

Fresh rocket leaves usually retail for about $20 per kg in large supermarkets such as Coles and Woolworths.

Boiled peanuts $380 per kg

Boiled peanuts $3.80 per kg

There are also fresh poultry and red meat stalls that sell chicken, duck, spatchcock, quail, beef, lamb, pork and other meat items too.

Fresh poultry counter

Fresh poultry counter

Green valley herbs and spices is an excellent pit stop and I would always load up if I’m short on turmeric and dried herbs.

Herbs and spices at greenvalleyspices.com.au

Herbs and spices at greenvalleyspices.com.au

I have used some of their  spices to slow bake chicken and it tastes quite delicious.

"Herbs and spices anyone?"

"Herbs and spices anyone?"

The aromas of the herbs and spices will draw you into this stall and most of which are sold by the bucket loads on display.

Truss tomatoes

Truss tomatoes

In my previous blog post, I wrote about some great cheap eats in Flemington. Apart from small cafes and restaurants, the Asian grocery stores are also an attraction. Tan Hung Long Supermarket is one of at least half a dozen Asian grocery stores in the suburb.

Tan Hung Long Supermarket

Tan Hung Long Supermarket

These stores sell a variety of dry groceries that range from Thai, Vietnamese, Chinese, Indonesian and Malaysian cooking ingredients.

Dragon fruit $9.99 per kg

Dragon fruit $9.99 per kg

Some stores will stock more unusual fruits and items not found in the larger supermarkets and deli.

Chinese pork dumplings $2.50 each

Chinese pork dumplings $2.50 each

Many years ago, the Sydney Fish Markets in Pyrmont used to be the main seafood market in the city but there are so many suburbs which now offer Sydneysiders fresh seafood that is available all year round.

Viet Hoa Fish Market

Viet Hoa Fish Market

Viet Hoa Fish Market is the larger among two fish shops in Flemington.

Barramundi $12.99 per kg

Barramundi $12.99 per kg

Australian barramundi is a beautiful fish to steam or grill on a barbeque.

Coral trout $29.99 per kg

Coral trout $29.99 per kg

Coral trout is a perennial favourite among Asian diners in some of the best chinese seafood restaurants in Sydney.

Blue swimmer crabs $13.99 per kg

Blue swimmer crabs $13.99 per kg

Blue swimmers are always plentiful all year round and they are sweet and tasty either steam or on a barbeque with a spicy sour Thai dressing.

Tiger and green prawns $16.99 per kg

Tiger and green prawns $16.99 per kg

Tiger prawns and green prawns are great and I always use these for Ipoh Kai Si Hor Fun.

Sydney rock oysters $12.99 per kg

Sydney rock oysters $12.99 per kg

Sydney rock oysters are one of the iconic seafoods of this city with its yellowish flesh and distinctive flavour.

Periwinkles $10.99

Periwinkles $10.99

Packed tightly in foam carton and old newspapers are mud crabs from Queensland, They are absolutely fantastic to cook Singapore chilli crabs, one of Mysaucepan‘s favourites.

Mud crabs $25.99

Mud crabs $25.99

There are also many chinese barbeque shops that sells excellent roast duck and roast pork among other chinese barbeque favourites.

KW Barbeque Shop

KW Barbeque Shop

KW Barbeque Shop is a favourite among locals and the queues can sometimes be tremendously long.

Chinese roast duck and roast pork

Chinese roast duck and roast pork

My personal favourite is the roast duck because I love making my own of chinese roast pork at home.

Chinese roast duck and roast pork

Chinese roast duck and roast pork

These shops usually close business for the day when all the supplies hanging on the window have been sold.

Sydney Markets, Flemington

Sydney Markets, Flemington

Sydney Markets
To find the location and contact details of Sydney Markets, click here.
For trading hours of the Sydney Markets, click here.

KW Barbeque Shop on Urbanspoon

Green Valley Spices – click here for more information.

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20 Responses to Sydney Markets, Flemington

  1. How rich you must feel to buy boxes of produce! The quality looks really great and the prices mostly seem good too. We don’t have access to such good bargins here, as we just don’t have a large enough population, but we are working hard to get better with choices and suppliers. I love how there are just so many wonderful choices gathered together for you to choose from- Lucky Ducks :)

  2. JasmyneTea says:

    I love Green Valley Spices! But I never buy fruit or veg, there are only two of us :(

  3. I’ve been to the markets with a chef and it was really amazing how fresh the produce was! It’s great that they open it to the public on Fridays :) I would go crazy for that rocket!

  4. What a fantastic Market and the produce is so diverse. I would find it hard to keep away. GG

  5. The produce looks so fresh. I love buying fruit and veggies from a fresh grocer like that, you know there isn’t going to be wax on the apples to make it look pretty!

  6. sugarpuffi says:

    god i cant remember the last time i went to flemington markets and i live a 3min drive from it 😛 produce is still so cheap as usual!

  7. Reem says:

    Oh what a sight….
    Such fresh and wide range of food…
    You must be feeling like a king…….

  8. Hannah says:

    The riot of colours in this post makes me ashamed of the fact that I stopped going to our farmers market in Canberra when it got cold over winter! I really need to go back :)

  9. Sophia says:

    Holy cow. That’s a HUGE box!!! I don’t know how the currency exchange goes, but it sounds like a freaking good deal.
    And hey, so many Asians! Hello, Asians! (wave hand)

  10. Ann says:

    What a GREAT market! I enjoyed every picture and description! After I enjoyed it – I showed it to hubby and WE enjoyed it! What amazing produce!

  11. tigerfish says:

    It sounds like a good deal! I used to buy fruits at wholesale stores here too and they are good and fresh (some even organic) – however I realized the deal works better for bigger families. For a family of two, I now prefer to shop at the farmer’s market or bulk section, buy the quantity I want and able to try a variety.

  12. Sissi says:

    I wish I lived close to such a market too! Although I cannot complain: my French market is great too, although not such a bargain most of the time…

  13. vivienne says:

    i almost feel a bit ‘ripped-off’ now as i went to pyrmont market this morning 😛 hehe. at least i didnt have to dress down for it tho..hahaha. man ive been hearing about flemington mkt for years now and never made my way there…after seeing this, im def going there next week to get my weeklies! they look SOOOOO fresh compared to what ive been buying from my local grocers! thanks for sharing..what a great post!

  14. Wow, what a lovely market! How much I’d love to go there! And looking at all those boxes with fresh fish and seafood, I can totally understand you’d have to dress down for that. 😉 But that’s part of the fun!

  15. I’ve been to Flemington, its great fun, and quite cheap if you are there close to closing

  16. heidi says:

    We have a market much like this in Cleveland – West Side Market – with fresh veg and meat and fish vendors – even a spice market – and bakers – so many great bakers!
    I should go more often – but I really don’t like a jostling crowd that much!
    The prices are so much better – and the fruit and veg so fresh.
    Loved your pictures and imagery – dressing down sounds like part of the allure! :)

  17. Manu says:

    That’s a place I NEED to go to! I often pass by it but have never entered… I would probably buy too much though… hehehehe

  18. Celia says:

    Great post, thank you! Isn’t the produce at the markets amazing? And how nice to see the handsome Brazilian guys at the spice stand.. 😉

    I’ve never been to Flemington shops, but I’ve often heard about them. Thanks for the headsup, we might have to make a trip out there after our next market visit!

  19. Cassandra says:

    Is this the produce market or the grower’s market?

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