Want to get fresh vegetables without the 32 layers of plastic packaging? Or simply want to support local farmers? From a hamlet hidden in a country park to a market in the bustling finance centre, here are seven farmers’ markets around Hong Kong you should know.
Hong Kong Island
Star Ferry Pier Central
- When: 12 pm–6 pm on Wednesday | 11 am–5 pm on Sunday
- Where: Star Ferry Pier No. 7
- How to get there: Walk from the closest MTR stops (Hong Kong Station) or arrive by Star Ferry from Tsim Sha Tsui Pier
Every Wednesday and Sunday, the ferry pier in Hong Kong’s financial hub Central will be turned into a farmers’ haven.
Organized by SEED (Wednesday market) and Kadoorie (Sunday market), the Central farmers’ market is one of the most accessible markets in Hong Kong.
SEED focuses on organic products by small individual local farms markets. Kandoorie’s Sunday market has a focus on reducing CO2 emissions—whether it is by supporting locally produced farm goodies or by buying environmentally sustainable products.
Kowloon
Mei Foo Farm Fest
- When: 11 am–5 pm every Sunday
- Where: Opposite Mei Foo Sun Chuen Phase 2 and under Kwai Chung Road Flyover
- How to get there: A short walk from Mei Foo MTR Exit A
Mei Foo Farm Fest, the first farmers’ market in Kowloon, is located behind a wired fence and under a flyover.
But look past its unassuming location, Mei Foo Farm Fest sells a decent amount of local organic vegetables, such as succulent eggplants, turnips, and cauliflower in vibrant purple and orange colours.
You can also find some dry goods and natural home products.
Occasionally there are cooking and craft workshops. For example, a few days before Lunar New Year there was a workshop on how to make traditional turnip cakes from fresh ingredients.
The New Territories
Mapopo Community Farm
- When: 2 pm–6 pm every Wednesday | 2 pm–5 pm every Sunday
- Where: Mapopo Community Farm, Ma Shi Po Village, Fanling
- How to get there: It’s a 20-minute walk from Fanling Station. Or take green minibuses no. 54A from Fanling Station to Belair Monte.
One of the pioneers in sustainable community farming in Hong Kong, Mapopo (website in Chinese only) hosts workshops, eco-tours and farmers’ market on top of agricultural activities.
Mapopo’s farmers’ market takes place every Wednesday and Sunday, featuring a range of seasonal organic farm produce, fair-trade products and handmade household items. Some highlights include handmade olive oil lip balm and local vegetables.
Visitors can also join its baking classes, farming workshops and village tours.
Find out about Mapopo’s latest updates on its Facebook.
Tai Po Farmers’ Market
- When: 9 am—5 pm every Sunday
- Where: 12 Tai Po Tai Wo Road, Tai Po
- How to get there: Tai Wo is only five minutes away
Boasting more than 30 stalls each Sunday, Tai Po Farmers’ Market claims to be the biggest of its kind in Hong Kong.
It’s the best one-stop shop to meet and buy from the city’s agricultural community.
Organized by the Federation of Vegetable Marketing Co-Operative Societies (FVMCS), the market strives to create a bridge between the consumers and the farmers in the city and promote organic farming at the same time.
It’s a good chance to explore Tai Po and its history as one of the main city centres in the New Territories.
In the late 1800s, an early farmers’ market called “7-Village Crops Open Fair” was established for market vendors to buy produce from the farmers of Taipo’s seven villages.
A stele from the old market (located a stone’s throw away from the new one) still stands in front of the current market.
Lai Chi Wo Farmers’ Market
- When: 10:30 am–3:30 pm, every first Sunday of the month
- Where: At Lai Chi Wo Village’s plaza
- How to get there: Visitors can get to Lai Chi Wo Village via a 2- to 3-hour hike or by a kaito (motorboat) that ferries people between Ma Liu Shui and Lai Chi Wo. Find out more ways to visit Lai Chi Wo on its website.
Visiting Lai Chi Wo requires efforts and stamina.
The tiny Hakka village, with a history that can be traced back to 1600s, is nestled in the northeastern fringe of the New Territories. As part of the Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark, the village sits among lush forest, shrubland, streams, wetland, mudflat and inner sea.
In 2013, a small group of amateur farmers moved into the once-desolate village under a Rural Sustainability programme, with a mission to revitalise farming in the area in a sustainable way.
Working with local villagers, the community has grown steadily since.
The community hosts a farmers’ market the first Sunday of every month. You will find fresh local produce from rice to cinnamon powder, from papaya to winter melon. In particular, the area is famous for its ginger.
You can combine a farmers’ market visit and a cultural and ecology tour around Lai Chi Wo.
Sai Kung Weekend Organic Farmers’ Market
- When: 11 am–5 pm every Sunday
- Where: Sai Kung Promenade
- How to get there: There is no MTR station in Sai Kung. You can take bus 101M from Hang Hau Station, buses 1 or 1A from Choi Hung Station or bus 99 from Ma On Shan to Sai Kung Bus Terminal. There is also a red minibus (the super fast and furious one) from Mong Kok to Sai Kung.
Sai Kung Farmers’ Market isn’t really big—with about a dozen stalls each weekend. But it’s a pleasant one to visit, combining a day trip to the vibrant seaside town.
Fishermen will also dock their boats along the shore and pass seafood to potential customers using a net for examination. You can either bring the seafood home or bring it to a nearby restaurant and ask them to cook it up for you for a fee.
Even if you don’t want to buy anything, it’s entertaining to watch.
Online
Jou Sun
Jou Sun, or “good morning” in Cantonese, is an online platform for farmers’ produce from and beyond Hong Kong.
In addition to a wide range of vegetables, you can also find local pork, chicken and seafood from the website.
The company also uses Green Delivery, meaning using existing delivery routes by SF cold chain vehicles instead of operating additional vehicles to fulfil the orders.
Order by 8 pm to get next-day delivery.
This post was originally published in March 2020. Last updated: August 13, 2021.
