Farmers' Markets

Around the country, Farmers' Markets have created an often vibrant, always friendly meeting place where you can be assured of food and produce at its best.

They are destination venues, usually at a weekend where you meet up with farmers and food producers who will sell their produce directly to you and you know that everything on offer will be as fresh as it can be.

By and large everything you see will have been grown or produced within 30 miles of the market place.

But truth is they have developed into a day out with a sense of purpose and many will have the added attraction of one or two pens of young animals which are especially entertaining for young children, and maybe attractions for youngsters.

For most of us though it’s the prospect of finding interesting local produce, be it fresh vegetables, fruit, meat, fish, eggs or jam. The aroma of freshly baked bread, the chance to taste home produced cheese or pies and maybe a sip of locally produced bear or wine, is enough to tempt the senses.

Take the bread I found today from a northwest London bakery which has won a formidable reputation for an incredible choice of specialty breads which they have been taking to farmers markets in London for many years.

Oh yes, and my real gem at a once a month Sunday market in Hampshire . . . fresh live winkles which I hadn’t had since I was a kid, and that’s more years ago than I care to remember. Now once again my special treat!