Tap Into This Cute Island Tradition on Your Next Tassie Road Trip [Roadside Produce Stalls!]

If you’re taking a spring or summer road trip around Tasmania (or jumping on your mountain bike) here’s something beautiful to look out for.

Roadside stalls are part of the fabric of rural Tassie culture, and will really refresh your faith in humanity – and your holiday produce stash.

What are they?

Roadside stalls are a way for growers and foodies to share delicious things directly with the public, usually right outside their front gate.

You might see a sign saying Fresh spuds in 500 metres or Homemade cakes comin’ up! and sure enough, as you trundle down the road, a rustic stall will appear chock-a-block full of goodies.

These stalls range from the tiniest pantries and bar fridges to full sized shelters with shelves full of produce. Many are made by hand from reclaimed materials like wood and tin, giving them a charming vintage vibe that makes you feel as if you’ve stepped back in time.

What will you find inside?

Open the door of a roadside stall and be met with all manner of down-to-earth delicacies, such as:

🍏Garden veg

🍏Fresh fruit

🍏Bunches of flowers

🍏Berries

🍏Cakes and biscuits

🍏Backyard honey

🍏Free range eggs

🍏Home-saved seeds

🍏Tracklements (a catch-all term for condiments such as pickles, mustards and chutneys which we encourage everyone to slip into conversation)

Where will you see them?

The ephemeral nature of roadside stalls is all part of the magic, and they’re constantly coming and going with the seasons – though of course, many are permanent fixtures that locals flock to for their weekly staples.

Summer and autumn are peak growing and harvesting times in Tassie so roadside stalls are more likely to be open and awash with fresh produce during these months.

Cherries, for example, are a sought after Tasmanian crop, growing fat and sweet and juicy in our cool temperate climate. They’re ripe between December and February, so don’t think twice if you see a Fresh Cherries! sign. Simply obey and thank us later.

The Huon Valley, south of Hobart, is famous for its roadside stalls because it’s one of our island’s primary food bowls.

The North West, too, will supply you with plenty of opportunities to stock up on mouth watering local fare from someone’s garden, farm or kitchen.

A little secret: near Hobart, Richmond Road is where you’ll find stalls selling the freshest cherries, apricots, figs (in different seasons).

If you’d like a smidge more direction, we came across this brilliant catalogue of Tasmanian roadside stalls that seems pretty current. Check it out.

Why to love roadside stalls?

These grassroots miniature grocers are so darn loveable, and here are three reasons why:

1. They run on honesty. While some roadside stalls are manned, many simply have a price list and a cash box, trusting you to do the maths. What we hear from stallholders is that 99% of the time, people pay properly for their produce – and that says a lot, doesn’t it? Most of us are good apples.

2. Fresher than fresh food. Ever think about how long it takes veggies to arrive at the supermarket before you’ve even put them in your trolley? With food miles you can measure in metres, the produce in roadside stalls will be far healthier and last way longer than anything you buy at the shops.
3. Direct human connection. Much of what we eat is grown far far away by folks we wouldn’t know from a bar of soap. But with a roadside stall, there’s nothing between you and the farmer (or backyard grower, or baker of the world’s best sponge cake) – and the money you put in the box goes straight to them.

Hot tips for making the most of Tassie’s roadside stalls

If shopping at roadside stalls is new to you, here are some practical tips:

1. Commit to pulling over. When you see that stall (or sign telling you one is coming up) don’t dawdle on decision making – take executive action and pull over, or risk missing it.

2. Carry cash. Sometimes roadside stalls have electronic payment options but the majority take coins or notes, so keep a bit of cash on you. As a bonus, you’re helping small sellers avoid bank/transaction fees. Win win.

3. Have an esky or cooler bag handy. Keeping fruit, veggies or homemade food fresh on the road can be tricky, but not if you’ve got an ice brick or insulated bag to pop those glistening rhubarb stalks and backyard eggs into.

Let us know in the comments if you’ve experienced the joy of roadside stalls, or have any questions about finding them in Tassie. We love chatting with you about island culture.