Happy shopper

Good Food Blog

What is RSS?

Posted at 11:15AM, 22 October 2008 by Jenni Muir - Food writer

After some years of wishing, our corner of the capital now has its own farmers' market selling everything from bloomers and turnips to unpasteurised buffalo milk and diver-caught scallops. The launch coincided with a spell of sunny weather so the first day had a real carnival atmosphere as locals turned out to welcome the stallholders, and fortunately the customers have kept coming back on subsequent Saturdays. All is well - or is it?

While some of us are thrilled to have such a range of super-fresh, seasonal British produce within walking distance, there are others in the next suburb who campaigned to prevent one opening a few years back. They weren't the slightest bit impressed by reports that farmers' markets helped boost property prices , instead arguing that a market would be too disruptive to residents and would take business away from local shops. Apparently there are similar feelings in some of the retail trade organisations.

If one more butcher tells me, 'No, love, there's no call for that round here,' about a simple cut of meat like brisket, I'll wrap their sausages around their neck

I am keen to support independent retailers, but the shops round our way are not brilliant (nb massive understatement). I'm rather sick of being sold half-dead herbs at high prices, and if one more butcher tells me, 'No, love, there's no call for that round here,' about a simple cut of meat like brisket, I'll wrap their sausages around their neck.

Adding to confusion is the suggestion that not all stallholders at farmers' markets are what they seem, with cynics amongst them passing off produce from elsewhere as their own, according to last year's report in the Sunday Times. It's easy to fool us townies by leaving a bit of dirt on the potatoes! No wonder one customer at our market last week was quizzing the veg man so closely about his farm.

But my neighbours and I have the thrill of the new. There are others who have already become quite disillusioned with farmers' markets , believing they offer too much high-priced ready-made food and hot food (inevitably sausages!) to-go, and not enough genuine local produce. Is that what you've found? Certainly in London 'local' seems to include Somerset and the Isle of Wight.

In any case, we can't live on farmers' markets alone, can we? Nice idea, but what about bananas? Or lemons? And all those other foreign ingredients that have become absolute staples? And do farmers who rear wonderful animals have the butchery skills necessary to make the most of their meat? Not if the mangled pork chops I got last week are fair indication.

I'm still working on the best way for me to use our local market routinely while supplementing it with trips to other shops, and yet not spend my life shopping. A bigger fridge-freezer would help I'm sure, but that ain't gonna happen. Any tips appreciated.

Comments

revjen

22 October 2008, 5:31PM
revjen

Our local farmers' market is dying on its feet - few stalls, limited selection (lots of hand-made soap - who needs that????) so not many people attend - so no new stalls appearing. Prices are high but I would certainly pay a bit extra if it was good food but this isn't anything special. I was very impressed with the idea of the Fife diet as introduced on 'The Food Programme' on Sunday but it would be hellish difficult to have a Berwickshire or North Northumberland diet unless willing to spend hours in the car tracking down your food.

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason:
Jo

22 October 2008, 8:11PM
Jo

Our local "Farmers Market" is way out of town, sells all manner of wierd & wonderful "organic, wholefood" snacks, but also locally grown veggies, home baked goodies and locally sourced meat & venison. However it is a "Farm Food shop" open 4 days per week, and quite expensive, andshopper really need acar to get there.

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason:
Hel - Brit in Beijing

23 October 2008, 3:50AM
Hel - Brit in Beijing

My ex boyfriend makes game pies in Kent and sells some of the produce at farmers markets. He goes to some of the markets in London - where it doesn't matter where you're from - and some in Kent where you just need to be roughly local. However with others again you really MUST be local and produce the product within a certain area. Ultimately, good local shops have nothing to fear from the occasional farmers market and bad ones don't deserve the helping hand to stay open.

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason:
Bill Pearson

28 October 2008, 7:30AM
Bill Pearson

I've had some real bargains from Farmers' Markets, I suppose it depends where you live and what food you buy and when you buy it. We're lucky in the North West to have some really good ones. I've had some really cheap fish from Lark Lane Farmers' Market in Liverpool (monkfish tails for Â£1.50 each).

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason:
Mighty Bush

29 October 2008, 1:49PM
Mighty Bush

These are almost always a disappointment. Overpriced - bought a kilo of new potatoes, bunch of carrots, stallholder asked if I'd like some mint with those - total Â£8! Plenty of hand made soap too and sausages. Luckily the butchers in this Rutland market town are helpful and knowledgeable - not as cheap as supermarkets either but I'd rather support them.

Flag as inappropriate

Please let us know your name and the reason you find the above comment inappropriate.

Your name: Reason: