Farmers Markets get some interesting press. Comedians, Armstrong and Miller, created the infamous Farmers Market sketch poking fun at the idea. Its a shame that they have this stigma attached as they are often a great opportunity to support local traders and buy fresh local produce.
One such market is held in the heart of the historic Park Estate on the green at Newcastle Circus. Taking place on the final Sunday of every month, (with the exception of January) between 11am and 3pm, the market brings the best local food and producers to the area.
We visited on May 25th. Waking to heavy rain, we feared it could be a washout, but the weather soon changed to glorious sunshine and made for a wonderful market day.
First stop for us was Rutland Charcuterie. Made with free-range meat from local producers, items are produced in their butchery and production kitchen. Samples of the goods were available which tempted us to purchase one of their delicious pork pies.
Samples were also on offer at the next stall from Stripey Beetroot and we purchased a spicy chilli hummus dip.
There’s nothing better in the sun than a good old barbeque. Thankfully, king of the sausages, award winning master butcher Johnny Pusztai of J.T Beedham & Sons was on hand cooking up burgers and hotdogs for hungry shoppers. We couldn’t resist purchasing a few of his tasty bangers to take home too.
The Very little Coffee Company were on board with refreshments. Served from -well, obviously a little van, but an incredibly attractive little van it should be said. The friendly owners offer fair-trade drinks and freshly made us a tea, a cappuccino and an expresso. They also had a tempting range of homemade tasty cakes. Cool Box frozen yoghurt were also on site if you fancied a cold fresh dessert from their unique Citroen van.
Other local traders and goods on sale included Gluten Free Notts with a range of fresh gluten and wheat free handmade food. The Really Good Cheese Shop. Jams, preserves and pickles from The Post Office Garden. Fermented vegetables and drinks from Zymo foods uk including sauerkraut, beet kvass and water kefir ginger beer. Locally grown cottage garden flowers, Organic veg boxes from Red Earth Organic and Glass craft and acrylic jewellery from DramaLama ltd, so there was a good selection of goods to choose from. For me, the market was missing a bread/baked goods store and a local craft brewery but the organisers tell me that they were absent that weekend but should be present again this month.
The next market is on Sunday 29th June so why not pop along and support your local traders.
by Tanya Raybould
