The Riverside Community Markets Association, who clinched gold at the Wales the True Taste Food and Drink Awards, welcomed the Minister for Rural Affairs, Elin Jones, to its Riverside Market yesterday (Sunday 7 February).
Some of the regular stall holders, who were equally successful at the True Taste Awards, were present at the market. They included:
- Hafod Cheese from Lampeter;
- Merthyr Tydfil’s Penrhiw Organic Farm;
- Bonvilston based Oaklands Organics, and;
- Greta’s Wholefoodies from Cowbridge.
The Association, founded by Stephen Garrett to set up street markets throughout Cardiff on weekends, scooped the top prize for its local sourcing initiative at the ‘Oscars’ of the Welsh food industry in November 2009.
Rural Affairs Minister, Elin Jones, said:
There are numerous benefits attached to farmers markets from environmental benefits such as reducing food miles to encouraging healthy eating and boosting the local economy.
Through buying locally sourced food and drink, we are minimising the energy used in food production, transport and storage and therefore securing a sustainable future for our farming and food industries.
One of our priorities is to make it easier for people to buy food and drink that has been produced locally in Wales, as part of the One Wales commitment and as set out in the Local Sourcing Action Plan.
The Riverside Market, recommended in The Times as one of the best farmer’s markets in the UK, attracts around 30 regular stall holders and more than 1,000 customers every Sunday.
Farmers’ markets and farm shops can provide a secure and regular market outlet and is especially valuable for new producers and small scale producers who are unable to produce regular quantities required by supermarkets.
