Kojonup is farming country before it is anything else. The town sits in the heart of Western Australia's Great Southern, surrounded by sheep and grain properties, and that agricultural heritage shows up on the plate: local growers selling in season, honey and preserves on the market tables, pantry classes at the annual show and a regional food festival calendar worth planning a trip around. This guide covers where to find the freshest local produce in and around Kojonup, and how to turn a market morning into a proper overnight stop.
Discovering the freshest produce at Kojonup's farmers markets
The farmers markets are the best place to find locally grown fruit and vegetables in season, and the most direct way to support the farmers who grew them. Depending on the time of year you will find fresh berries, apples, stone fruit and tomatoes alongside eggs, honey, jams and baked goods from local producers. Stalls often carry handmade crafts too, from soaps and candles to preserves put up in someone's farm kitchen.
Markets set up in the historic town centre, and because they run through the year rather than as a one-off, you can come back and find different produce each visit. Market days do vary with the season, so check with the Kojonup Visitor Centre before you travel if the market is the main reason for your trip.
The best part is the conversation. This is a district of working farms, and the person weighing your tomatoes usually grew them. Ask what is in season, how it was grown and what to look for next visit; most growers are happy to talk.
Why buying local matters in a farming town
Kojonup's economy runs on agriculture, so a dollar spent at the market works harder here than almost anywhere:
- It goes directly to the farmer, not through a supply chain.
- It keeps money circulating in the local community and its small businesses.
- It rewards growers using sustainable methods such as organic or biodynamic farming.
- It gets you produce picked at its freshest and most flavoursome, not trucked in.
- Market mornings double as the town's social hour, so you meet the people behind the food.
Food festivals and events worth planning around
The market tables are only half the story. The district's food culture peaks at a handful of annual events:
Kojonup Agricultural Show
The town's premier rural showcase, held each year at the Kojonup Showground by the Kojonup Pastoral and Agricultural Society. The pantry and cellar classes are a direct window into local food culture: jams, pickles, sauces, preserved produce, eggs, even home-brewed beer and cider, judged alongside baking classes for fruit cake, scones and bread. See our Kojonup Show guide for what to expect.
Taste Great Southern
An eleven-day celebration of the region's wine, food and fresh produce, with events spread across the Great Southern including Kojonup and Katanning. The program typically runs in autumn and changes every year, so check current dates before booking. Our Taste Great Southern overview covers how the festival works.
Bloom Festival
The Great Southern's spring festival spreads across towns from Kojonup to Bremer Bay, pairing the wildflower season with artisan markets, regional produce and food and wine events. Spring is also when the Rose Maze at Kodja Place is at its best. Read our Bloom Festival guide for the detail.
Shopping the markets sustainably
A few habits make a market visit better for you and the district:
- Bring your own bags and containers; most stallholders would rather you did.
- Buy what is in season. It is fresher, cheaper and better for the growers. If in doubt, ask.
- Spread your purchases across several stalls so more local producers see the benefit.
- Look beyond fruit and vegetables: honey, preserves and baked goods all come from local food producers too.
- Buy what you will actually use, and store or preserve any surplus.
If you are passing through on a longer run, a market stop breaks the drive well; see our self-drive from Perth to Kalgoorlie guide for how Kojonup fits that route.
Between market days: eating well in town
No market on the day you are here? The town still feeds you well. The Kojonup Bakery bakes pies, pastries and bread on site daily, the Royal Hotel directly opposite Cornwall House serves generous country pub meals, and Black Cockatoo Cafe at Kodja Place and Kojonup Country Kitchen cover coffee and breakfast. The full rundown, with addresses and hours, is in our Kojonup dining guide.
Staying longer in the region? The food lover's guide to Kojonup digs deeper into the farm-to-table scene, and the Great Southern's vineyards are within day-trip range.
Turn the market run into an overnight stay
Cornwall House Accommodation sits at 72 Albany Highway in the centre of Kojonup, an easy walk from the town shops and directly opposite the Royal Hotel. The motel has 12 air-conditioned rooms across queen, twin and family configurations, each with an ensuite, fridge, microwave and tea and coffee making facilities.
The part food travellers appreciate most: the shared guest Camp Kitchen, with full cooking, dining and lounge facilities. Buy your vegetables, eggs and sourdough at the market in the morning and cook them the same evening. Contactless check-in is available from 2pm, so a late arrival off the highway is never a problem.
Check availability and book See our rooms
Frequently asked questions
Does Kojonup have a farmers market?
Yes. Markets featuring produce grown within the district run in the town centre through the year, with stalls selling seasonal fruit and vegetables, eggs, honey, preserves and baked goods. Market days vary with the season, so check with the Kojonup Visitor Centre for current dates before you travel.
What local produce is the Kojonup district known for?
This is sheep and grain country, and the food follows the farms: lamb and beef, free-range eggs, honey, homemade jams and preserves, seasonal vegetables and country baking. The pantry and baking classes at the annual Kojonup Show are a good measure of how seriously the district takes its home produce.
When is the best time to visit Kojonup for food events?
Spring (September to November) pairs the Bloom Festival and wildflower season with the Rose Maze in full flower, while Taste Great Southern typically runs in autumn and the Kojonup Show is the town's big annual fixture. All three move dates year to year, so confirm the current program before booking. Outside event weekends, the markets, bakery and pub keep the town fed year-round.
Can I cook the produce I buy at the market?
Yes. Guests at Cornwall House have use of the shared Camp Kitchen, with full cooking, dining and lounge facilities, and every room includes a fridge and microwave. It is a practical setup for cooking a market haul rather than letting it sit in the car. See the accommodation page for room details and availability.
