Barnard Castle Farmers Market

A £39,375 grant from ‘Local Food’, a programme supported by the Big Lottery, which provides funding for projects working to make local food more accessible and affordable to communities saw the first of several planned food presentations and road-shows at Barnard Castle Farmers Market in October.

Themed as the ‘Big Apple Day’ stall holders put together amouth-watering luxury hamper consisting of, apple juice, sausages, crumbles, fudge, granola, pies and pickles to name a just a few. Visitors were invited to search for as many products on the market containing apples. It was a closely run competition with James Goldberg from Barnard Castle coming out on top with the most number of apple goodies. Thank you to everyone who took part and who visited the market, making it one of the busiest farmers’ markets of the year.

Autumn at Barnard Castle Farmers’ Market can be one of the most fruitful times. My mind turns to the sound of apples lazily thumping to the ground, of plump partridge sizzling in the oven, giant marrow and all manner of good things.  Being able to choose from the choicest ingredients, which are fresh, crisp and ready for the pot, is what the joy of seasonal food is all about.

Having to wait for the arrival of seasonal food means we know it will taste better, because… ‘Now is its time’. However, food can only taste as good as the time invested, and that’s why we’re so fortunate having a market that brings not only diversity of produce, but also the story of its making.

October’s market is also ‘Apple day’ whereupon stallholders will offer themed apple delights to tempt, including, crumbles, organic apple juice, rowan & crab apple jelly and chutney too. The market will also hold its first series of stallholder talks and presentations.

This month will see Katrina Palmer from Bluebell Organics and Shelley Ridddell from Bessy Beck trout fishery and Smokehouse describing how their produce is lovingly made, along with mouth-watering ideas and recipes to bring to the kitchen table.

The talks and presentations are a great opportunity to learn about locally produced food and to ask questions. There’s nothing like talking to the people who produced the food you’re going to eat and who are willing to give you their time. Katrina will explain how BlueBell Organics make their own delicious home made apple juice, while Shelley will describe how their fabulous smoked products are made including their delicious range of pate and smoked trout fishcakes. There will also be recipe cards and handouts to give away, so you can go home and tilt a few plates to the swipe of bread or a finger.

It’s simple, life is too short for bad food. Enjoy your food how Mother Nature intended and eat seasonal…eat well.

Hot off the press….

Barnard Castle Farmers’ Market has received a £39,375 grant from Local Food, a £57.5 million programme supported by the Big Lottery Fund, which provides funding for projects working to make local food more accessible and affordable to communities.

The money will be used to provide Barnard Castle Farmers’ Market with a proper business structure and sustainable management system, improving the viability of the market as an enterprise and developing it for local food sold from the Barnard Castle Farmers’ Market. This in turn will provide a viable and sustainable economic outlet for local food producers and a readily accessible and  affordable source of locally produced food for the local community.

Once the business structure is in place the project has funding to run a series of stallholder led information demonstrations at the market in which individual stallholders will be able to present information to the public about how, where and why they farm or produce the food they are selling. Additionally the project will create a whole new concept of a “farmers market roadshow” whereby the stallholders will go out to local groups who may not have the chance to attend the farmers market .The roadshow will be selling produce but also again have information and talks from the stallholders to explain about their produce and the importance of locally produced food

Katrina Palmer, Committee Member Barnard Castle Farmers’ Market, said,

“The aim of the Barnard Castle Farmers’ Market Sustainability Project is to build on the existing position and strengths of Barnard Castle Farmers’ Market so that the market can continue to grow in a time of economic downturn. Whilst we appreciate the incredibly loyal following of regulars at the market we also appreicate people are having to make hard economic choices at the moment and may not see local food as a priority.We hope through this project we can really communicate to people the importance and incredible quality and value of the products on sale at the market.The market has struggled to be run by a voluntary committee of stallholders with their time already committed in their own businesses – we hope this project gives the market the chance to establish a long term sustainable structure to secure the future of the market itself.”

Local retailer Andy Beck, from  The Teesdale Gallery said,

“ The Monthly Farmers’ Market shows off the very best of locally produced food and really complements the wealth of independent retailers here in Barnard Castle. Visitors and locals alike are able to enjoy this great combination.” 

Mark Wheddon, Local Food Programme Manager, added by saying:

 ”Our scheme is all about making local food more accessible and affordable to communities, and this enterprising project promises to do just that.  Barnard Castle Farmers’ Market will bring local produce to local people, while helping to secure the future of food growing by inspiring people with events, festivals and cookery demonstrations. We are very pleased to support it.”

As we head in to the middle of summer, I’m reminded how the delights are in the seasons and what they bring us. A visit to Barnard Castle Farmers Market in August presents an abundance of seasonal produce. The kitchen is often described as the centre of the house, now all to often (weather permitting) we take the kitchen into the garden by way of the barbecue, often becoming a social gathering for friends and family. Although some might view this as a recipe for the burnt and under cooked, there are many great barbecue dishes that make a visit to the farmers market well worthwhile. From pigeon to pork from trout to tagine sauce, there’s a feast of mouth-watering barbecue ideas just waiting to be discovered.

We’re also fortunate for a town of Barnard Castle’s size to host a market with such diversity of flavours and produce. Having such extreme freshness and lavishness of local, northern ingredients means we can eat and drink as well as anywhere in the world. Elizabeth David in her book, Italian Food’ talks about how Italian food can ‘scarcely fail to charm in the shape of green peas of the Veneto and marbled stuffings of rolled beef and the spinach gnocchi of Tuscany. In retort may I propose the local organic spinach from Richmond-North Yorkshire, or perhaps the fine cuts of Dexter Beef, (fed on a diet of herb-rich pasture ) from Deer-n-Dexter on the Cumbrian Fells. Along with seasonal jams, vegetables, cordials and game to inspire you, there’s also the confidence knowing all produce has been locally and lovingly produced.

More than anything summer is about great taste. Winter Tarn, one of our excellent Cumbrian traders has recently had their Salted Butter voted one of the top 50 products in Britain today. The coveted 3 stars Gold from the Great Taste Awards 2012 is one of the most sort after foodie accolades in the country. Great Taste is the biggest independent benchmarking scheme for local, regional and specialty foods in Britain and has been since 1994. Over 350 professional foodies are brought together each year to take part in 45 days of judging, deciding which foods deserve one-star, two-star or the ultimate three-star awards.

Winter Tarn’s butter is hand made using pasteurised cream and salt, lovingly wrapped by producers Jeremy and Trisha Jackson, and now one of the top 50 proven fine foods in Britain. I’m sure even Elizabeth David would have approved.

Let’s hear it for some basket dangling from the arm gathering of fresh, summer-season, produce this weekend.

Barnard Castle Farmers’ Market will be held on Saturday 7^th July, despite the recent torrent of rain. A quick peep at Saturday’s forecast suggest things might be looking up. So fingers crossed we have a dry day, with lots of happy shoppers appreciating some of the north’s best food and drink. Remember, the farmers’ market give shoppers more opportunity to purchase quality, seasonal produce, assisting the environment with less food miles and also helping the local economy. We hope you enjoy your visit and come and visit us again in the near future.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/2656305

Although some may not  remember the coronation of 1953, many do remember the silver jubilee street parties of 1977 and some of the delicious food family and friends cooked up. Even though back in the 50’s and 70’s we didn’t have the luxury of farmers’ markets to fill our larders, we still enjoyed quality home baking and the memory of jelly, sausage rolls and trifles still linger on the taste buds.

The diamond weekend celebrations promise to serve a similar culinary experience with Barnard Castle Farmers’ Market traders cooking, carving, baking, some delicious delights from around the region. If the weather holds, there might even be the opportunity of a Jubilee BBQ with bangers and burgers or even trout! From fish to fudge, from chicken to cheese, you’ll find plenty to keep the fridge and larder full making the most of our longest bank holiday weekend. Enjoy.