Brigg Farmers’ Market
September 24th, 2006 by Scott |
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On the 4th Saturday of each month, nearly all year, a little town called Brigg about 10 miles from where I live holds a farmers’ market. This may not seem special to most people – most rural towns have such markets – but in a time where small shops are closing in favour of supermarket chains, this is my only way to get in touch with some of the people making my food.
This month was probably the first time I’ve made it since spring due to work, but was pleasantly suprised due to the many samples available. In fact, I went before my breakfast, and came home full, after sampling the many cheeses, jams, etc on offer.
The theme this time was that each stall holder selected their “speciality” product, and had samples available for the public to try. Towards the end of the day, the public (shoppers, such as myself) voted for their favourite product, with one of the voters to be chosen to receive a hamper filled with each of the speciality product. That person wasn’t me.
Incidentally, I voted for the smoked venison, whereas my wife voted for a 1yr matured soft cheese from Lincolnshire Poacher. Soon after voting though, I changed my mind – I should have voted for the sourdough bread. Oh well!
We came home £30 worse for wear, having bought a fairly random bag of goodies – none of which really work together to create a full meal, but appealed to us none the less. Here’s what we managed to buy:
- An olive green Organic Pumpkin from Bridge Farm
- A fillet of Smoked Salmon from Smiths Smokery
- A wedge of Lincolnshire Poacher 1yr matured Cheese
- A loaf of Sourdough Bread from Trueloaf Bakery
- A Chocolate Earthquake cake from Martha’s Pantry
- A Carrot Cake from Martha’s Pantry
- A Tickled Pink Beetroot Cake from Pink Pig Organic Farm
- Wild Boar Sausages with Yorkshire Beer from Round Green Farm Venison Company
- Soft Blue Cheese from Cote Hill Farm
I’d recommend anyone, wherever you are in the world to support your local Farmers’ Markets; this is how you learn where your food comes from. I was pleasantly surprised to find that these people just love to talk about how they make their food (particularly the bearded man shown above), and will answer any questions.
If you don’t have a market such as this, visit a farm shop if available. Whatever you do, ensure buy fresh produce from people who know what they are selling to you.
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The breads look so good…. I wished we had loaves like these in Singapore.
I missed having those freshly baked rolls in the mornings in Berlin..
Perhaps it’s a reaction against the omnipresent supermarkets, these markets are bringing real food for real people, nothing grown for shelf life, just honest to goodness produce that tastes the way things used to before the supermarkets started to muck around with the producers, forcing them to grow to their specifications, which have nothing to do with flavour, but is all about maximising profits for the supermarkets. Buy any tasty fresh produce from a supermaket lately? Don’t think so.
hi scott, i’ve had the good fortune of sampling the lincolnshire poacher and it really is sublime…
I totally agree with you on supporting and buying local. Saying that, i’ve just been to M&S which is 2 minutes from my office and bought some ‘outdoor bred Lincolnshire pork sausages!” 2 packets – oink.
See, i’m supporting your home county
I think it would have been difficult for me to decide between the venison or the cheese…I love those food items just too much.
I love your site and know that a good several things can be learned here! Just noticed the RSS feed below, look forward to more!
Hi guys!
Serene: Why not make your own? Bread is suprisingly easy to make, and you don’t need a bread maker. I’ll make a post on this in the next couple of weeks…
Neil: Absolutely agree. Supermarkets are all about profit, and sadly taste loses out.
J: It absolutely is! My fave is the 2yr mature, but my wife prefers the 1yr milder version.
Mae: Close enough I guess! I like the taste, but my wife hate’s them. Can’t agree on everything I suppose.
rowena: Thanks for the nice comments. The venison *was* delicious, and quite tangy for some reason.
I don’t have such markets here. I live in the capital of Romania and I miss such things. I really do.
Those products are healthy and tasty. Not like those I buy from supermarkets.
And there is nothing I can do about it ….
Alex
What a wonderful idea. We have lots of small local markets in and around Toronto with vendors who are passionate about their wares, but I’ve never seen any contests as to best…..whatever. I think it’s great.
Thanks for sharing
I love farmer’s markets! Whenever I’m travelling I seek out the local market because it’s always a great way to try something new.
just from what I seeing in these pics, I’ll either vote for sourdough or rye bread. They’re always my favorite, with a slice of smoked cheesee…mmm… yum!