More deciding to buy locally grown food
IF there is a single boom sector so far in agriculture in the 21st century, then it is the growth and popularity of farmers’ markets.
Like many a new concept, the farmers’ market trend started from small beginnings just ten years ago, then gathered impetus and grew like topsy. But it needed regulation, with some degenerating into shoddy craft fairs, where the "buy local" ideal was hard to find.
So the National Farmers’ Retail and Markets Association (FARMA) was formed, its members vetted, and committed to upholding a recommended criteria of quality.
Quite simply a farmers’ market is a market in which farmers, growers or producers from a defined local area are present in person to sell their own produce, direct to the public. All products sold should have been grown, reared, caught, brewed, pickled, baked, smoked or processed by the stallholder.
The appeal of being able to be confident you are buying the freshest, most local produce possible, supporting your local community and economy, and helping the environment by reducing food-miles, is proving highly successful.
With over 500 farmers’ markets in the United Kingdom, there is bound to be a market near you offering a wide range of quality, local, ethically-retailed, reared or produced, foods.
Farmers’ market Certification is a scheme run by FARMA and inspected by an independent body which assesses member markets to ensure they operate within guidelines for what makes a farmers’ market the real thing.
If you see the certification green logo, you can be sure that the products sold at the market, and the people selling them, are working within a framework which is intended to offer shoppers great local foods direct from the producer.
FARMA continues to develop and promote certification standards. It is now a condition of membership that farmers’ markets apply for certification within nine months of being accepted as a member. There are now some 200 farmers’ markets which have achieved this status, or are on their way. If your nearest farmers’ market is not certified, ask the organisers why not.
The process was developed by a cvertification working group made up entirely of market managers. Advice was taken from Trading Standards, Environmental Health, LACORS (Local Authorities Co-ordinating Office on Regulatory Services) and accredited agents during its development. The process was piloted twice before completion and launch. Farmers’ markets that have achieved certification report increased customer confidence in the standards of the market and additional interest from both local and national media. Producers are also reassured to know that fellow stall holders at a market are genuine. Developing market rules that are based on the recommended criteria is the first step towards running a true farmers’ market. Good rules also enable market management to select producers that fit the criteria – and reject those that don’t.
In Cornwall there are farmers’ markets at Bodmin, Bude, Callington, Carnon Downs, Falmouth, Helston, Launceston, Liskeard, Lostwithiel, Penzance, Redruth, Saltash, St Austell, Stoke Climsland, Truro and Upton Cross.
Devon farmers’ markets may be found at Exeter, Newton Abbot, Plymouth, South Molton, Tavistock, Tiverton, Barnstaple, Bovey Tracey, Bratton Fleming, Buckfastleigh, Crediton, Cullompton, Dartmouth, Exmouth, Holsworthy, Honiton, Ilfracombe, Ivybridge, Kingsbridge, Okehampton, Ottery St Mary, Seaton, Torquay and Totnes.
