On Saturday 1st May 2010 Hereford is hosting a home coming parade of 3 Rifles from Afghanistan.

3 Rifles will march through the City with High Town accommodating the inspection ceremony, saluting dais and the formal address, by The Countess of Darnley, of the troops.

Rather than cancel the Farmers Market, the stalls will be placed in Commercial Street, between the Open Market and The Kerry.

The traders of Herefordshire Farmer's Market Group wish our customers a very peaceful Christmas and a happy new year and look forward to seeing you all again next year. (But don't forget our final Christmas markets over the next two weeks :)

On December 11th, Leominster Farmer's Market was a part of the famous Leominster Victorian Christmas Market.

This was an all-day event with many attractions including carols being played by the Phil James Brass Band.

The “ Independent” Best Farmers’ Market

Herefordshire Farmers’ Market chosen by Shaun Hill

Farmers’ markets are a good idea: they act as a marriage broker between growers and shoppers. Those who produce food are not necessarily skilled in the dark art of marketing and shoppers who care about their ingredients may like to see and speak to the people who produce them. What’s on offer wont always tick boxes such as organic, but it will be seasonal and fairly local.. The option to look at fruit and vegetables that has not arrived cellophane wrapped from the other side of the world, or to buy juicy pork that comes from old breeds, is an increasing appealing one.

The system is not problem-free most towns have few places to park, so it is small wonder that most people go to out-of-town supermarkets. Town centres have sadly had their day and the future for Farmers’ markets - as with cattle markets before them - will be to follow suit by moving somewhere more accessible outside town.

Hereford farmers’ market is my choice and having been a guest at the opening ceremony, I’ve been a strong supporter over the years. It has blossomed into a twice- monthly event which showcases some of the area’s best produce and attracts a loyal following. The people who crowd in for local meat and vegetables will also certainly stop to buy in other shops. A reason to brave the city centre and a good result for everyone.

14th November 2009

Shaun Hill chef/proprietor of the Walnut Tree Inn Abergavenny 01873 852 797

Footage of the Flavours of Herefordshire food festival

Click here

Hereford Market Farmers Group reach finals

The Farmers’ Market was a Finalist in the 2009 Flavours of Herefordshire Awards

New (and not so new) producers

New pages have been added to our Producers section. Have a look at what produce Three Counties Gourmet, Meadow Days and Wernddu Farm have to offer.

Ludlow Jam Pan

Hereford Farmers’ Market Group would like to introduce a new producer to the markets at Leominster on the second Saturday and Hereford on the third Thursday of the month.
Her name is Sara-Jane Brough, trading as the Ludlow Jam Pan. Sara-Jane produces high quality Preserves following traditional methods using seasonal produce from her own garden. Her next markets will be Leominster on March 14th. and Hereford on March 19th.

We’re giving our hearts to Herefordshire produce!

Trish Marsh will be ending her year long Herefoodshire Challenge (see footnote) as she started it - at Leominster Farmers’ Market. A year ago Trish and Andrew emptied their cupboards of all non-Herefordshire and non-Fairtrade produce and ran a tombola to give it all away to surprised members of the public. Since then they have been eating and drinking entirely Herefordshire and Fairtrade produce –which has been an interesting and tasty adventure.

This year February’s Farmers market fortuitously falls on Saturday Feb 14th, so there’s plenty of chance for Valentine’s fun. Join us in Corn Square: the market runs from 9am to 1pm and activities will be taking place from 10.30 - 12.30.

So come to Leominster to buy lots of great local produce, see our vegetable bunting and admire a ‘hearty’ English breakfast (that’s heart shaped eggs, bacon and sausages…). There’ll be plenty of chances to get involved in vegetable based fun activities – with a touch of romance. In the Forbury chapel you can make a heart shaped felt purse with local Ryeland sheep wool from 10 am – and enjoy Fairtrade and local refreshments. And, to round things off, at noon we will have the Valentine Vegetable Ensemble playing music on edible instruments, flanked by vegetable juggling.

This all adds up to even more reason to come and support our stalwart and skilful Farmers’ Market stallholders, who grow, pick and sell their fine produce 12 months a year in all weathers. There's plenty of great local produce to eat and drink, even in winter! Plus Leominster boasts many locally owned independent shops selling lots of local food and drink all week through.

Trish Marsh, Herefoodshire Challenge, Herefoodshire@hotmail.co.uk

note: Trish Marsh’s challenge has been to eat only food and drink grown in Herefordshire, plus Fairtrade marked food for a whole year.

To find out more, visit www.myherefordshire.com/herefoodshire
or herefoodshire.blogspot

Sales of HFMG re-usable shopping bags tops 1000

Elaine Hawkins of the Markets, Fairs and Street Trading dept of Herefordshire Council said that Up to the end of December 2008 the total sales of the jute bags were 1016 bags.