Farmers Markets

Farmers' Markets

Farmers' Markets are a venue for local farmers and producers to sell their products directly to you, and an increasingly important way of buying produce. Many of these products are not easily available to the public. For example, there are more than 400 varieties of cheese made in the UK and relatively few of these are available in supermarkets. Likewise, there are around 380 commercial producers of wine in the UK, very few of whose products are available through major retail outlets. Farmers Markets help make these products available to you.

The Facts

A Farmers' Market is a venue for local farmers and people making food with local ingredients to sell their produce directly to you. There are three golden rules that should apply to a genuine Farmers' Market. These are:

• Producers must be local, defined as within a specified radius of the Market site (usually 30 miles).
• Producers must sell only their own produce. Bakers, etc, should use a minimum of one local ingredient.
• The person behind the stall must be the producer, a close family member or an employee directly involved with production.

Local produce means seasonal, FRESH produce. The average supermarket carrot has travelled 200 miles before it gets to you, the average Farmers' Market carrot has travelled less than 30 miles, and may have been picked on the day you buy it.

When you shop at a Farmers' Market you have the freedom to ask questions about what you are buying and the person behind the stall will have the answers because they have produced what they are selling.

The markets are regarded as a great success and they often help to increase the number of visitors to the town. Traders attending are very satisfied with the events.

A Farmers' Market is held in Ampthill on the last Saturday of every month in Aragon Housing Association's car park behind Katherine's House, Dunstable Street, between 9.00am and 1.00pm. For further details please contact Penny Frances - Ampthill Town Council, 66 Dunstable Street, Ampthill, Beds. MK45 2JS. Tel 01525 404355. E-mail council@ampthilltowncouncil.org.uk or www.ampthilltowncouncil.org.uk

Woburn Farmers Market is held on the third Sunday of the month from 11am - 3pm on the Pitchings in the centre.

For further information please contact Woburn Traders Association tel:01525 290950

Biggleswade Farmers' Market - Market Square, Biggleswade from 9.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m., on the 3rd Wednesday of every month.

Contact: Michelle Chaplin, tel: 01767 313134 fax: 01767 601188
E-mail: biggleswadetown@btopenworld.com

Further information also available from the National Farmers' Retail and Markets Association - www.farmersmarkets.net

Want to organise a Farmers' Market in your town? Then contact us: econ.dev@midbeds.gov.uk