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Producers and farmers trading at farmers’ markets in South West Surrey recently signed up to form a co-operative to run three markets in the region, the second group in England to form a co-operative through support provided by the Making Local Food Work programme.
Waverley Borough Council started the first farmers’ market in Surrey at Milford in 1999 and the new co-operative was officially launched at Milford on 21st June, coinciding with the market’s tenth anniversary.
The co-operative will be owned by the members, and run by them, for the direct benefit of the producers and the communities in which the markets are held.
Iain Lynch, Head of Economic Development and Partnerships at Waverley Borough Council, and who has been closely involved with the markets over the past ten years, said ”The new co-operative will provide a sustainable future for the markets which are key to the producers individual business strategies.”
John Emerson, Chair of the Co-operative commented “The Making Local Food Work programme has been helpful in providing a clear focus on what we need to do to make a success of the new co-operative. It will be hard work, but we are looking forward to a rosy future”
