Archive - Friday, 9 January 2004


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Expanding markets look ahead to 2004

THE OLD Gloucestershire Farmers' Market Group has several new ideas for its events over the coming year.

The group, which runs events in Berkeley, Cam, Chipping Sodbury, Dursley, Nailsworth, Tetbury, Thornbury and Wotton-under-Edge, increased its catchment area in 2003 and also began to run markets more regularly at its more established venues.

As well as starting the monthly markets in Berkeley, Cam and Wotton, and twice monthly markets in Thornbury, the group arranged four markets at one off venues.

The markets at Berkeley Show, Berkeley Castle and Coaley Community Shop all did very well.

Judy King, organiser of the Berkeley, Cam and Dursley Farmers' Markets, said: "These proved to be very successful, so we will be visiting them again this year. We will also be looking for other suitable venues to run occasional markets.

"Our system of producers supplying and erecting their own gazebos, means that markets can be organised at short notice and low cost.

"We concentrate on providing lively markets, with a wide choice of high quality local food. The facilities are good for producers and we keep stall fees low.

"We actively recruit new producers and support them at their first markets. In the last year I have recruited five new producers."

The first market of the new year took place near the Co-op in Cam on Saturday.

Markets are scheduled for Chipping Sodbury (January 10), Thornbury (January 15), Berkeley (January 17), Dursley (January 24) and Chipping Sodbury again (January 29). All start at 9am and run until 12.30pm or 1pm.

Some of January's markets are not taking place due to their proximity to the festive season. Thornbury (January 1) and Wotton (January 3) were both cancelled.

Commenting on the Christmas rush, Mrs King added: "December is always a busy month in the Farmers' Market world. I could have attended five markets in three days, but in the end I took a stall to four of them.

"Like other producers, I am grateful for the rest after Christmas. I'll just be doing the routine milking and cheese-making."