Making the most of Farmers Markets

"The definition of a Scottish Farmers' Market is a market  in which farmers, growers and producers from throughout Scotland sell their produce direct to the public. All foods/products sold should have been grown, reared, caught, brewed, pickled, baked, smoked, or made/prepared by the producer ."

Local growers and producers take personal pride in the food they bring to their Farmers' Market and want you to enjoy it. The emphasis is on freshness, quality and value for money, Buying locally means you can ask how the food is produced and grown and at the same time customer feedback is appreciated by the producer.

Buying locally also reduces food miles and the stages in the food chain from fork to plate. It puts money back into the local rural economy thereby sustaining and creating jobs.

To make the most of your Farmers’ markets, make sure you:

• pick up any leaflets and literature about the producer, which you can use to enhance your menu and have available for your customer
• have a selection of your own marketing material and ask the stall holder if they could display it in their farm shop(s)
• talk to the stall holder and, if feasible, arrange to meet with them when they’re less busy. This should allow you to develop good one-to-one relationships with your suppliers
• ask for recipes and suggestions on how to best use and present the produce being sold