In response to the operating pressures facing the sector, a one-off grant for farmers' markets has been developed to support the operational performance, business sustainability and growth of the sector.
The program will operate over two stages. Stage 1 will require the successful completion of a training workshop provided at no cost to applicants, after which eligible applicants may apply for funding via Stage 2.
Stage 1 applications are open from 20 July 2025 to 14 September 2025. The training workshop will be held in late September 2025 (date TBC). If the Stage 1 workshop is oversubscribed further workshops will be scheduled in 2026. The Stage 2 funding round will remain open until June 2027 or when funds are fully expended, whichever comes first.
This application is for the Stage 1 training workshop, delivered by the Western Australian Farmers' Market Association (WAFMA). After successful completion of the training workshop eligible businesses may be invited to submit an application for the stage 2 funding round. Acceptance into stage 1 does not guarantee acceptance into the stage 2 funding round.
Stage 2 funding will be aimed at regional and metropolitan economic development growth opportunities through supporting the business sustainability of existing farmers markets or encouraging the development of new farmers markets.
Program objectives include assisting with the costs of infrastructure, planning and licencing and the need to improve organisational performance to ensure markets are financially sustainable over the long term and remain compliant with regulations.
What's Available
Financial assistance, in the form of grants of up to $50,000 (excluding GST) may be available to operators of eligible farmers' markets to support business operations, build capability and ensure a sustainable business model for future success.
The program aims to support farmers' markets efforts to become financially sustainable by improving the following:
- infrastructure (e.g. signage, toilet/hygiene facilities, power, onsite storage/shelter, accessibility, point of sale upgrades).
- planning and compliance (e.g. business planning, risk management plans, work, health and safety compliance, food safety training and compliance, first aid, auditing, specialist training).
- marketing and communication activities, including community engagement (e.g. specialist incursions such as chefs or one-off events).
- market development support (e.g. fee reductions or waivers for stallholders adhering to WAFMA guidelines), managed by market operators with justification provisions.
- one-off projects that contribute to business operations and ongoing financial sustainability (including one-off costs for service providers and/or project staff salaries directly related to approved projects).
- up to 10% of project budget for administration and project management costs incurred by market operators managing an approved project, with documented evidence submitted with acquittal report.
What is a Farmers' Market under this Scheme?
The scheme is open to both existing markets and those under development that comply with, or are working towards complying with the WAFMA guidelines below:
- A predominantly fresh food market that operates regularly within a community at a focal public location that provides a suitable environment for farmers and specialty food producers to sell fresh and value-added specialty foods for human consumption directly to customers.
- The farmers' market is run by a community-based, not-for-profit association, social enterprise, co-operative or company with the purpose of complying with point 1.
- All produce must be sold by the farmer / producer, family member, or employee directly involved with the growing, rearing, catching or manufacturing of the product. Co‑operative farming ventures may be included at the discretion of the individual farmers market, but must be genuine business arrangements, not solely formed to create the ability to resell products or sell multiple products at one stall.
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