Instead, about 300 people came through the gate, and many of the stall holders sold out, within the first hour.

The market is an initiative of On the Grow, a team dedicated to encouraging Highlanders to eat local fresh food and contribute to our food security. Stall holders were all local producers.

The group's Sandra Menteith said she was very pleased with the first market.

"The response has been fantastic," she said.

"It is great to see that our local growers, who could sell their produce in Sydney at a very good price, have chosen to come here and sell to locals instead."

One of the stall holders, Greg Lawrence from The Orchard Farm at Tallong, was overwhelmed by the demand for their peaches.

"We sold out in about half an hour. We are working to revive the last remaining orchard in Tallong after the 1965 fires, and this is very encouraging," he said.

Councillor Ian Scandrett also said he was "delighted" by the market's success.

"This initiative came through council's Economic Development Committee, and it can only get better from here. In fact the committee will be expanding its reach to be more focused on rural," he said.

Curly, from Curly's Compost, summed up the appeal.

"This is what people want - veggies out of a garden, not from a supermarket."

The Railway Street Farmers' Market will be held every Thursday between 3pm and 6pm on the old bowling greens on Railway Street, Moss Vale.