FABULOUS FOOD But it is not just local produce that consumers FABULOUS FOOD


T e UK has never had so much choice when it comes to buying fresh, local produce


I


t wasn’t that long ago that our choices for buying fruit and vegetables were


rather limited – a weekly visit to the nearest supermarket was often the only option and the variety and origin of stock was limited. But times have changed and moved on since those dark days. Nowadays it has never been easier to buy fresh, varied, local produce straight from the source: the farmers themselves.


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The rise of farmers’ markets over


the past decade has gone hand-in- hand with the public’s growing interest in natural


living and subsequently higher


quality, well-sourced products. Convenience is out and experience and provenance are in. There are multiple examples of quality


farmers’ markets throughout the UK, from the Cheltenham Farmers’ Market (fresh-n-local. co.uk) to the famous Brixton Farmers’ Market in London (brixtonmarket.net), all off ering fresh veg, artisan bread, homemade jams and all the delicious cakes you can carry home with you. If you want to fi nd the best famers’ market


local to you then you will want to visit the National Farmers’ Retail & Markets Association (farma.org.uk), which certifi es the fi nest markets throughout the country according to their ten core principles. Basically, if you see their logo then you know it is a market of real quality.


are after, there has long been a growing trend towards buying organic food. The defi nition of organic food can be a little fl exible, but simply stated, organic produce is grown without the use of pesticides, synthetic fertilisers, genetically modifi ed organisms, or ionising radiation. Despite organic food costing a little more than


39% of shoppers buy organic food on a


weekly basis and 80% of all consumers say that they have some knowledge about organic food


its non-organic equivalent, it seems more of us are buying organic than ever before. The Soil Association’s (soilassociation.org) Organic Market Report 2017 showed that the organic market continued its fi fth year of growth and is now worth £2.09 billion. Total sales of organic products increased by 7.1% in 2016, while non-organic sales continued to decline. Organic


now represents around 1.5% of the total UK food and drink market. “There are good opportunities for organic


farmers if you fi nd the right market. Dairy, beef, poultry and eggs have all seen sales growth this year. British farmers can take confi dence in the fact that UK-produced organic products are highly regarded around the world, so export is, and will continue to play, a big part in UK organic,” says Liz Bowles, head of farming at the Soil Association. “In addition, people are more aware than ever of buying British and more aware of how their food is produced, which will help increase organic sales in the future.” So get yourself down to your local farm shop


or visit your weekly famers’ market and help support local industry. It’s a fun day out that just happens to taste delicious! C


Fresh, tasty and supporting the local economy


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THE COUNTRYSIDE EXPERIENCE 39


Images: istock.com/Philou73, whitemay


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