From Warrnambool to Ararat, independent grocers, butchers and farmers markets are offering cut-price produce, bulk buys and specials that can beat the big supermarkets.

The Brolga has broken down where to go for each category on your shopping list with what you can expect to pay.

Fruit and vegetables

West Vic is ripe with options for independent fruit shops and markets, with plenty of deals to be found. Below are a few options for where to shop. 

Check in-store for what’s on special this week.

Peach’s Fruit Market

Peach’s offers various weekly specials on produce, such as 2kg bags of apples for $2, or three avocados for $2.99. 

Where: 12 Coronet Street, Wendouree

Hours: 8am-5:30pm Mon-Fri, 8am-12pm Saturday 

Materia Brothers

This local Warrnambool fruit market has rotating weekly specials - think spinach for $2.70 a bunch, mandarins for $3.99 a kilo or pumpkins for $1.49 a kilo.

Where: 138 Liebig Street, Warrnambool

Hours: 7am-6pm Mon-Fri, 7:30am-4pm Sat, 9am-4pm Sun

Garden of Eden

Here you’ll find locally-sourced bread, pasta, eggs and fresh fruit and vegetables for prices like $2.50 for 1kg of carrots.

Where: 319 Murray Street, Colac

Hours: 7am-5:30pm Mon-Fri, 7am-1pm Sat

Markets

Markets are a great way to find quality food and drink at good prices while supporting local stallholders. 

Warrnambool Garden Market

Running every Wednesday afternoon at the Warrnambool Community Market, fresh produce is front and centre, with everything for sale picked within 200km of Warrnambool.

Where: Corner of Grieve and Derby Street

Hours: 3-6pm every Wednesday

Warrnambool Fresh Market

Another local farmers market, held on the first and third Sunday of the month year round at Lake Pertobe. Fresh produce, bread, wine, spirits and more.

Where: Pertobe Road

When: 8:30am-1pm

Ballarat Farmers Market

This regular market offers plenty of local produce including deals from stallholders such as thirty eggs for $20.

Where: Zoo Drive, North Gardens Reserve, Lake Wendouree

Hours: 9am-1pm

Meat

There is no shortage of quality butchers across the region, often with good specials each week, including meat packs, to ensure you’re sorted for dinner ideas. 

The Brolga has listed a few options below.

Warrnambool: Lucas Brothers Butchers, Norfolk Butchers, Crackling Smallgoods

Colac: Murnanes Country Fresh Meats, Hickeys Central Meats, MidWest Meats, MeatCrew

Ballarat: Sinclair Meats, Weightmans Meats, Ringin’s Butchery

Bulk buys

Taking containers to get refilled with pantry essentials and paying by weight to stock up is an easy way to save and make sure you never run out of flour or laundry detergent. 

Here’s where you can visit to keep your cupboards in good supply.

Jo’s Pantry, Colac

Winchelsea Wholefoods

The Source Bulk Foods Ballarat

Ballarat Wholefoods Collective

Go Vita Warrnambool