None more so than to small business owners like Tony Belmonte of Huntley Berry Farms who were was still trying to get back on track after COVID-19.

"This year because of COVID-19 we haven't been able to open yet so we're selling our produce here rather than there," he said.

Huntley Berry Farm had brought over 150kg worth of fresh strawberries to the market and by around 10.30am it was all gone.

"We've had an awesome day," Mr Belmonte said. "We've probably served 400 people."

The business owner added that it was the first time in around a year Huntley Berry Farm had had a stall at Orange Farmers Market.

"Because of today I'm going to come to all the markets from now on," he said.

"I think covid has brought more people up from the city," Mr Belmonte added. "Today was flat out."

Other stallholders similarly vouched for the success of Saturday's market day.

SJ Pienaar, the owner and head-cheesemaker at Second Mouse Cheese Company, added that she'd also sold out of double-brie and blue-cheese before the morning was out.

"Today's been a great market because the weather is so beautiful... It just brings everyone out," Ms Pienaar said, agreeing that covid had "absolutely" been a attributing factor in the amount of people who showed up.

"Since the pandemic and since lockdown and so (many businesses) got shut down, people care more than ever about where their (food) is coming from. And they want to know where their money is going.

"They want to know whose pocket the end-dollar goes into. They want to know that you're not the face of some big corporation," she said.

"We get our milk from the Little Big Dairy in Dubbo and so that's another thing people are asking us - 'Where's your milk coming from? Who owns the dairy farm that you buy your milk from? Is it one of the big bad guys?'

"People care more and more (about where their food comes from)."

Orange Farmers Market is held on the second Saturday of every month from 8.30am until midday at Northcourt (behind the visitor's information centre), cnr Peisley and March Streets. The next market will be on December 12.