Why choose to go to a Farmer’s Market to buy your food? Well they have a a myriad of benefits for the whole community, here are some reasons:
Farmer’s Markets: offer interaction between producer and customer so there’s plenty of feedback opportunity. It offers smaller producers who aren’t large enough to produce for supermarkets the chance to get a regular and secure flow of customers. Making sure farms are present at numerous different markets has kept a lot free from bankruptcy.
Consumers: the interaction between producer and customer means you can really find out exactly where and how your food is grown. You can get information on dietary needs and with exposure to fresh locally produced food you can’t help but stay healthy. Markets can give people ideas and inspiration on new dishes and are fundamental to educating the consumer on their food.
Environment: Markets reduce food miles. Sound pollution and fossil fuel use is limited and substantial reductions in packaging help clear up the environment. Also the Markets help to encourage more diverse farming, hence improving bio-diversity, with emphasis on organic and pesticide free production.
Community and local economy: Markets play a big role the sustainability of the local economy. They increase employment, and give the unemployed the chance to develop new skills and confidence; and by encouraging consumers to buy their products, they are also supporting local businesses and therefore keeping money within the local economy. Statistics report that Markets increase business to retailers in the area with feedback concluding takings increase by 30% i some of the areas where Markets have been present. By bringing people together Markets stimulate a growing community feeling, and bring added life to local area.
More info on Markets local to you can be found at www.farma.org.uk, and listing of all Farmer’s Markets in Kent can be found at www.farmersmarkets.net, and if you fancy utilising the internet more, there’s a virtual farmer’s market with a selection of companies and their products at www.vfmuk.com Meanwhile here’s a selection!
Medway
| Address: | Corporation Street Car Park, Corporation Street, Rochester Kent |
| Phone: | 07876 583023 |
| Opening hours: | The third Sunday of each month from 9am to 1pm |
| Address: | Old Town Hall, High Street, Gravesend Kent |
| Phone: | 01474 337382 |
| Opening hours: | 2nd Friday of each month 10:00am to 1:00pm |
Tunbridge Wells
| Address: | Town Hall, Royal Tunbridge Wells Kent TN1 1RS |
| Opening hours: | 2nd and 4th Saturday of every month. 9:00am to 2:00pm; every Wednesday 10:00am to 2:00pm |
Maidstone
| Address: | The Village Green, Bearsted, ME14 4EB |
| Phone: | 07956 344 722 |
| Opening hours: | 4th Sunday of every month from 10am to 1pm |
| Address: | High Street, West Malling Kent |
| Phone: | 01189 451799 |
| Opening hours: | 4th Sunday of each month 9:30am to 1:30pm |
Canterbury
| Address: | The Goods Shed, Station Road West Kent |
| Phone: | 01227 459153 |
| Opening hours: | Tuesday to Saturday from 8am to 7pm and Sunday from 10am to 4pm |
Warehorne
| Address: | Village Hall, Church Rd., Warehorne, Ashford TN26 2LH |
| Phone: | 01233 733718 |
| Opening hours: | 4th Sunday each month, 10am to 12.30pm |
St. Margarets-at-Cliffe
| Address: | St Margarets Village Hall Reach Rd. St.Margarets-at-Cliffe Dover |
| Phone: | 07877894593 |
| Opening hours: | The last Friday of the month, 9am to 12.30 pm |
Elham
| Address: | The Rose and Crown Courtyard High Street Elham Nr Canterbury CT4 6TD |
| Phone: | 01303 840044 |
| Opening hours: | Second and fourth Sunday of the month, from 10.00 to 12.00 |
Challock
| Address: | Challock Memorial Hall Blind Lane Challock Nr Ashford TN25 4AU |
| Phone: | 01233 740653 |
| Opening hours: | 1pm to 4pm on the 1st and 3rd Fridays of every month. |
Wye
| Address: | The Small Green, Wye TN25 5AH |
| Phone: | 07804 652156 |
| Opening hours: | First and third Saturday of the month, from 9am until 12 noon |
Bridge
| Address: | Red Lion Pub High St. Bridge Nr Canterbury CT4 5LB |
| Phone: | 07970 633768 |
| Opening hours: | 2nd and 4th Saturday every month |
Iwade
| Address: | Iwade Village Hall Ferry Rd, Iwade, Sittingbourne, Kent, ME9 8RG |
| Phone: | 01795 429 154 |
| Opening hours: | 1st Sunday of the month from 10am til 1pm |
Headcorn
| Address: | New Village Hall off High Street Headcorn Ashford TN27 9NL |
| Phone: | 07711 760692 |
| Opening hours: | Every second Saturday from 9.30am to 12.30pm |
Capel-le-Ferne
| Address: | Village Hall, Lancaster Avenue, Capel-le-Ferne, Nr Folkestone CT18 7LX |
| Phone: | 01303 255114 |
| Opening hours: | Every Tuesday 10am to 12.30 pm |
This map details all of the farmer’s markets in the Kent area (courtesy of www.kfma.org.uk):
