Monmouth Farmers' Market
Monmouthshire County Council and the Trading Market at the Shire Hall have agreed
the plan to establish a Farmers' Market on the Medieval Bridge over the River
Monnow. The market will be held, initially, on the Fourth Saturday of each month
from 10am to 1pm. The agreement marks the culmination of a joint initiative, to
establish a Farmers’ Market, of Monmouth and District Friends of the Earth
and Farmers' Markets in Wales.
The bridge has provided vehicle access to the town for over 600 years and was
retired in 2003 when a new bridge was opened some four hundred metres down
stream. Its ancient stones show few signs of weariness after such prolonged
and heavy use and it remains a beautiful, iconic feature of the town.
There are no records of the bridge being used for a market in the past. Monmouth
was granted a Charter in 1605 and, since then, markets have taken place either
at the Shire Hall or Priory Street. Holding the Monmouth Farmers' Market on
the bridge will not only set an historic precedent but is intended to contribute
towards a refocusing of Monmouth as a market town with a higher than average
proportion of small, independently owned shops.
The site has been chosen because of its visibility to traffic entering the
town and the proximity of car parks. A market on a bridge is not unique but does pose a few logistical problems not least the camber! Special stalls
have been designed and are being built that will, hopefully, counter the problem.
A Farmers' Market is specifically designed for producers to sell their own products
directly to customers. The produce ranges widely: meat, game, fruit, vegetables,
cheeses, bakery, smoked, brewed, pickled, crafts, plants etc but all are either
produced are have had significant value added at a known and preferably local
location. The reasoning behind this is not only that the products can be of
exceptional quality but also the markets represent an important step towards
a relocalasition of our food supply. The majority of our food relies on
non renewable resources: fossil fuels for fertilizers and pest control, a spiraling
reliance on transport over massive distances added to these the problems of
degrading the environment with carbon emissions, loss of fertility, nitrogen
and pesticide pollution and the list goes on. Farmers' Markets represent an attempt
to redress some of these negatives by focusing on a less intensive and industrial
approach to food production and distribution.
The need for us to develop more sustainable solutions for the way we live on
this planet grow ever more urgent and it is heartening the Monmouth and
District Friends of the Earth, besides meeting regularly to discuss these weighty
issues, has decided that, as well as the more usual campaigning, it should direct
a proportion of its focus on practical solutions
A recent survey of Monmouth residents, the view from the open meeting held
in March and from producers wishing to use the market have all shown a marked
preference for the market to be held on Saturdays. It has been problematic for
the traders at the Shire Hall Market to accept a market taking place at the
same time in another location in the town. The fact that the Farmers' Market
will be exclusive to producers registered by FMIW has been an important factor
in allaying some of these concerns and allowing the way forward for Saturday
Markets.
The Monmouth Farmers' Market is scheduled to start on the 22nd July 2006 and
will be amongst the first to be registered by FMIW. The registration provides
an assurance to customers that products at the market have been produced by
the stallholders, have transparent traceability and are produced to high standards
and in compliance with current legislation.
Monmouth is intended to run as a “sister" to the succesful Usk Farmers’
Market with the view of establishing a regular supply of produce in this part
of Monmouthshire. Careful monitoring will need to be undertaken to ensure a
proper balance between supply and demand but the aim is to broaden the supply
base to ensure continuity.
For more information please contact FMIW: Tel.0845 610 6496 or E-mail: info@fmiw.co.uk
details of the next market
[Last updated by Webmaster 21/01/2010 19:29]
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