Christmas Food Shopping at Farmers Markets

4th December, 2008
Forget the credit crunch, get down your local farmers market for something to munch.

Theres a an old saying 'quality is better than quality' or in other words a slither of local organic cheese is better than chunk of processed orange stuff. With the credit crunch raging and doom mongers preaching armageddon, its a tough market for local food producers at the moment. Small artisan food businesses produce quality food on a small scale so it is not feasible for them to sell at rock bottom prices. (although in some cases local food is cheaper than what you can get in the supermarkets)

Farmers markets have sprung up across in towns and cities across the UK and have done a roaring trade in recent years as the interest in local food, health and cooking have come to the fore. The markets have enabled struggling farmers to diversify and also for people living in cities and towns to connect again with where their food comes from and they have helped increase awareness of the countryside and farming.

Christmas is the perfect time to visit a market, to get something as a gift or to bring something delicious to the table. Theres something for every price range. OK, so perhaps buying the organic turkeys might be too expensive on your budget, but there is handmade fudge and chutneys that won't send your overdraft into a tailspin.

Here is some Christmas farmers markets to visit , and if you know of any that are happening close to you not listed, please do add using the comment box below. Naming the location, date and time.

Bideford, Devon - The Big Sheep, Saturday 6th, 13th, 20th MORE INFO

Preston (Covered Market), Lancs - 9.30am-2.30pm 13th December MORE INFO

London Christmas Farmers Markets, Tues 23rd December, -
Ealing 9 -11
Pimlico 9 -11
Wimbledon 9 -11
Islington 12 -2
Marylebone 12 -2
Parliament Hill 12 -2
Queens Park 12 -2
Walthamstow 12 -2
MORE INFO

York (Parliament Street), 19-20 December, 9am-4.30pm, MORE INFO

Market Drayton (Cheshire Street), 14th December, 10am-1pm, MORE INFO

Windsor (St Leonards Road), 6th December, 9am- 1pm, MORE INFO

Newcastle Upon Tyne (Greys Monument) 12th December, MORE INFO

Edinburgh (Castle Terrace), Every Saturday, 9am-2pm, MORE INFO

Wrexham (Queens Square), Friday 19th December, 9am-3pm, MORE INFO