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Farmers Markets

28 replies

shalaa · 02/08/2005 14:49

Just wondering how many of you go to a local farmers market? We have one every 3rd Thursday of the month. Can buy delicious fresh fruit & veg, and the meat is lovely. Always come away with loads of handmade cakes and apple juice. I'm very much in favour of supporting your local farmers!

OP posts:
tex111 · 02/08/2005 14:57

I'm not sure if it qualifies as a farmer's market but DH and DS go to Borough Market every Saturday morning and bring back wonderful treats for lunch. We also go to the market in Blackheath sometimes. Definitely agree that we should support local farmers. I find that eating local honey is great for hayfever too.

expatinscotland · 02/08/2005 15:07

US! We usually go fortnightly, but as we do almost all our shopping there we make a weekly thing from time to time.

We have gotten to know some of the farmer's by name and we really enjoy supporting local farmers, particularly as we haven't seen a one yet who doesn't practice free-range organic farming.

I get all my bread flours and porrige oats there as well.

DD loves it as she knows she will be getting a cake upon arrival.

Ours is weekly all year-round, so we are pretty lucky.

TwinSetAndPearls · 02/08/2005 15:16

we do, makes a day out as well as shopping.

Nik72 · 02/08/2005 15:23

We go to the edinburgh one, it's fab. Also I get a weekly fruit & veg box from one of the stalls & it's been really educational getting various seasonal things - we cooked beetroot for the first time the other week & have made some nice organic veg purees for when i start dd on solids. It's so good to get fresh local things that haven't been flown in from the other side of the world, I think the more demand for this sort of thing & less for tasteless suoermarket veg which has to look perfect for the shelves the better!

gingerbear · 02/08/2005 15:40

Ours is once a month - first Sunday of each month. Gloucester Old Spot bacon & sausages are a firm favourite in our house. Also the best Wensleydale and mature cheddar cheese anywhere. You have to be there early for the veg and meat joints. Last time there was someone selling frozen yoghurt - heaven!

jamboure · 02/08/2005 16:15

Nik

Where in edinburgh??

I am in livingston but wouldnt mind going to a wee market

expatinscotland · 02/08/2005 16:18

Jamboure
It's in Castle Terrace, conveniently located next to the Castle Terrace car park.

jamboure · 02/08/2005 16:23

must get dh to run me in I don't do driving in the town LOL!!!!!!!

What times it on pleae? and is it every saturday?

expatinscotland · 02/08/2005 16:28

Every Sat. from 9-2. BUT, the good stuff goes early so it's best to get there as soon as - the car park fills up as well, especially this time of year.

I can't wait to get more leeks. Mmmm. Yummy chard as well. Bags and bags of tatties.

Nik72 · 02/08/2005 16:47

Yes, get there early for the good stuff - the ballencrief stall does great sausages but they can run out early. Went last year on christmas eve - was like a military operation going in!!!.

expatinscotland · 02/08/2005 16:49

The Ballencrieff farm is worth a visit as well! DD loved it and we enjoyed seeing the sows and piglets.

Absolutely the best gammon and bacon around.

Worth getting up early for!

Nik72 · 02/08/2005 16:51

Where is the farm, expat? Sounds fun.

IlanaK · 02/08/2005 18:50

We buy all our fresh produce and meat from farmer's markets. We go to one most Sundays locally (Marylebone area central london). If we can't make it for some reason, we go to Borough market, though that is technically not a farmer's market. We will not buy any fresh food from supermarkets.

expatinscotland · 02/08/2005 20:57

It's outside Longniddry, Nik. The farmer will give you a leaflet if you ask. It's open Tues.-Sun. from 1-4PM and they have a wee shop with yummies and recipe booklets.

morningpaper · 02/08/2005 21:10

I'm a bit cynical about the farmer's market - I prefer to use the local organix box scheme. Most of my farmer's market stuff is just the usual pesticide-riddled stuff they peddle to supermarkets, but three times the price. I DO think they charge A LOT - we pay around £2.50-£3.00 for a loaf of spelt bread.

IlanaK · 02/08/2005 21:32

We have looked into the bread issue extensively. We buy our organic bread at either the farmer's market, one of a couple of organic health food shops, or at one of a couple of bakers that still use organic stone ground flour (yes, I know I am lucky to have so much choice). We have found that the price is the same (around £2.50) whichever one of those we buy from. At first, I was shocked by the price (we had changed from the supermarket after reading about how bread is made). However, I have to say that the difference is worth the price. The loaves are much much denser (we buy granary or rye), fill you up much more, and seem to last a bit longer (I mean they go further).

Lio · 02/08/2005 21:34

Good web site: www.bigbarn.co.uk

Type in your postcode, choose how many mile radius you want and it'll tell you all sorts of things in your area all marked on a little map, like farms selling direct, box schemes, farmers' markets etc

TwoIfBySea · 02/08/2005 22:10

I posted this on the Supermarkets thread but it would go well on here.

Scottish Farmers Markets

And Jam there is one made for you called The Jam Kitchen which is near South Queensferry!

jamboure · 03/08/2005 05:20

mmmmm jam market sounds tasty

Where in queensferry? I really only know my way to the the water and hawes inn

Furball · 03/08/2005 08:21

I've bought local meat (from the butcher) for about a year as I got fed up with the crap I was getting from the supermarkets. The difference in taste (and texture) is well worth the extra. Though like others have said, we don't seem to use as much.

With fruit & veg though - I've changed in the last month to Sainsburys organic, which is fine, but obviously would prefer not to line Mr Sainsburys pocket. The farmers market is only once a month, so unless I went to a farm shop which is over 5 miles away, I can't really change

Milk is from the milkman, but will change on Monday to organic milk.

Also thanks for links to some great websites.

expatinscotland · 03/08/2005 09:37

Two
I posted another message on the original 'dispatches' thread about the farmer's market in Edinburgh. We have a very limited budget ourselves, but still do almost all our food shopping at the farmer's market and stay on budget. It's worth a visit!

TwoIfBySea · 03/08/2005 21:01

Thanks expat, is that right next to the NCP car parks that are in that area? Do people turn up early as we can get there easily for 9 but any earlier might be pushing it!

We'll need to get a shopping list ready for DH's next weekend off. I've been to the one in Falkirk a couple of times and there is one just starting in my hometown so I may start visiting my parents on Wednesdays to go to that! At Falkirk I once got chicken drumsticks 1kg for £3.99 and they were absolutely gorgeous, the meat was delicious and all organic from happy chickens!

TwoIfBySea · 03/08/2005 21:03

Meant to say that there was enough to freeze so that was two meals sorted. Of course, having less added water in the meat means they feeze brilliantly as well.

jambuttie · 11/03/2006 18:17

re-opening this please

anyone tried falkirk? where is it and how does it compare to edinburgh

TwoIfBySea · 12/03/2006 16:21

It can be a bit hit and miss Jambuttie. It is usually in the main street, the pedestrian area near all the shops. Not so good during the winter months, I haven't been for ages, have you tried \link{http://www.thejamkitchen.com\The Jam Kitchen} ?

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