Blaby District Council

Summary

Farmers' markets give the opportunity to buy fresh quality local produce direct from the producers. The local authority, with its partners, operates a regular Farmers’ Market on 4th Saturday of the month from 9.00am until 1.00pm in the car park of Blaby Social Centre, Leicester Road, just a stroll from Blaby Town Centre.

Market dates for 2010

How to apply for a farmers' market stall

1. Producers wanting to take a stall at the Farmers’ Market need to complete the application form provided below.
2. Completed applications need to be returned to Leicestershire Food Links Ltd for consideration.
3. Blaby Social Centre run a table top sale inside the Centre on Farmers’ Market days.
4. Enquiries for stalls at the table top sale to Dr Clive Pett telephone 0116 277 9981

Downloads

• Market rules (PDF, 30KB)
• Leicestershire foods feasibility study (PDF, 4,588KB)

Printable forms

• Application form for a farmers' market stall (PDF, 38KB)

Further information

Farmers' Markets have proved very popular as shoppers can speak directly to the producers of their food and learn something of the 'story' behind food production. The quality of the produce is superb, as reflected by the number of awards won, and the freshness is unrivalled. Studies have shown that, like for like, most produce is less expensive than at supermarkets.

The markets have been a 'lifeline' to small and family farms - many will admit that without this new way of trading they would have been out of business by now.

Town centres also benefit. Most Farmers' Market shoppers also spend money at shops and cafes, reversing the drift to 'out of town' venues.

Blaby District Council works in partnership with Leicestershire Food Links Ltd (LFL) and Blaby Social Centre to run successful Farmers’ Markets in Blaby Town Centre. A range of produce is on sale which can include free range beef, lamb and pork, home cured bacon and ham, organic and rare breed meat, eggs and poultry, meat and fruit pies, bread, cakes and pastries, handmade chocolates, preserves, chutneys, jams and handmade soaps.

LFL is a not-for-profit community enterprise formed in 1999 by farmers and consumers to bring local foods to the widest possible audience in the county. As well as setting up and operating Farmers' Markets, LFL run projects to bring more local produce to caterers and retailers in the county, to raise awareness of food issues in schools with 'grow, cook and eat' activities, including local ingredients in school meals and developing marketing and distribution for local producers.

Farmers’ markets

More than ever, Farmers' Markets are good for farmers, rural communities, market towns, the environment, your health and your taste buds.

As usual, there are three golden rules that should apply to a genuine Farmers' Market. They are:

• Producers must be local, defined as within a specified radius of the market (normally 30 miles);
• Producers must sell their own produce. Bakers etc must use a minimum of one local ingredient;
• The person behind the stall must be the producer, a close family member or an employee directly involved with production, allowing you to ask questions about how the food was produced.

Leicestershire Food Links carried out a feasibility study confirming demand from local shoppers and producers. See download section above.

External websites

• Leicestershire food links (external link)

Contact us

Officer / Team	Sarah Wale
Postal address	Leicestershire Food Links P O BOX 796 LE2 3UZ
E-mail address	sarahwale@hotmail.com
Telephone	0116 286 4209
Mobile	07530 179151

Officer / Team	Commercial Environmental Health Team
Postal address	Blaby District Council Council Offices Desford Road Narborough Leicester LE19 2EP
E-mail address	environmental.health@blaby.gov.uk
Telephone	0116 272 7515
Fax	0116 272 7594

If you need this information in other languages or formats (large print, Braille or audio), please let us know when you contact us.

This page was last updated on 26th May 2010