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14 October 2009
Farmers’ markets run by social enterprises should be supported due to the potential benefits they provide to communities say a new Government report on traditional retail markets.
The report backed the approach taken by Making Local Food Work in helping support the development of social enterprise models of farmers’ markets as a way of providing a vehicle for producers to provide local food to their communities.
The Collaborative Farmers’ Market project is part of Making Local Food Work, a programme delivered by seven national organisations which helps people to take ownership of their food and where it comes from. The project provides direct support to help farmers’ markets bring fresh local food to more customers and so help to support the livelihoods of producers and invigorate communities. The project draws on the experience and expertise of two key national organisations – the Plunkett Foundation and the National Farmers’ Retail & Markets Association (FARMA). The Plunkett Foundation and FARMA are working together on the Making Local Food Work programme to help farmers’ markets throughout England.
FARMA presented evidence to the House of Commons Communities and Local Government Committee which considered the current role and future potential of traditional retail markets such as farmers’ markets.
Peter Couchman, Director of Making Local Food Work and Chief Executive of the Plunkett Foundation said, ‘Farmers’ markets play a key role in reconnecting producers and consumers. We are delighted that the pioneering approaches to support the development of social enterprise approaches to farmers’ markets through Making Local Food Work have received Government support in this important report.’
Gareth Jones, FARMA’s managing agent said: ‘Farmers’ markets were acknowledged in the Communities and Local Government Select Committee report, published in the summer and the basis of today’s statements, as the biggest success story of markets in recent decades. If local authorities can now be persuaded to put in infrastructure for markets and farmers’ markets and embrace them as a vital part of the community, life in our towns and villages will be the richer for it. We are very proud of FARMA Certified farmers’ markets and are pleased that there is acknowledgement in the Government’s response to the Select Committee report that farmers’ markets are a distinct kind of outlet whose identity and integrity must be upheld. With support we can increase the ability of farmers’ markets to deliver all their benefits, to customers and the community as a whole.’
For media enquiries, please contact Elizabeth of Mar on elizabethofmarpr@yahoo.co.uk and 07870 276375
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Notes to Editors
The Government Response to the House of Commons Communities and Local Government Committee Report “Market Failure? – Can the traditional markets survive?” is available at http://www.official-documents.gov.uk/document/cm77/7721/7721.pdf
Making Local Food Work (http://www.makinglocalfoodwork.co.uk/) is a five-year programme funded by £10 million from the Big Lottery Fund’s Changing Spaces Programme. Making Local Food Work aims to secure the long term future of thriving communities that are strongly connected with the land, that understand where their food comes from, and are empowered to respond to their own needs using community-led solutions. A consortium of seven organisations, led by the Plunkett Foundation, is pooling its expertise to develop and promote different types of community food enterprise, giving advice to people all over England looking to re-engage and help others access good, fresh, local produce with clear origins. The partnership includes Campaign to Protect Rural England, Co-operativesUK, Country Markets Ltd, FARMA, Plunkett Foundation, Soil Association, and Sustain.
The Plunkett Foundation (http://www.plunkett.co.uk/) is a national organisation based in Woodstock, Oxfordshire that is dedicated to improving rural livelihoods through co-operative and social enterprise. The Plunkett Foundation works with other organisations that share its aims of helping rural communities respond to challenges to jobs, services and community vitality. It was founded in 1919 by Sir Horace Plunkett, the pioneer of agricultural co-operation in Ireland and in 2009 it is celebrating 90 years of helping rural communities to believe in what they can achieve together.
FARMA (the National Farmers’ Retail and Markets Association - http://www.farma.org.uk/) represents farming businesses and those involved in local food who sell directly to consumers through farmers’ markets, as well as farm shops, pick-your-own, home delivery and box schemes. FARMA has a commercial focus and depth of understanding on the direct to consumer sector combined with many years of experience in marketing and business development. FARMA has a hands-on approach to providing help to market organisers and stallholders so that they can improve their markets and their businesses.
The Big Lottery Fund’s Changing Spaces programme was launched in November 2005 to help communities enjoy and improve their local environments. The programme is funding a range of activities from local food schemes and farmers markets, to education projects teaching people about the environment.
The Big Lottery Fund, the largest of the National Lottery good cause distributors, has been rolling out grants to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK since its inception in June 2004. It was established by Parliament on 1 December 2006. Full details of the work of the Big Lottery Fund, its programmes and awards are available on the website: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk
Making Local Food Work and its partner organisations are not responsible for the content of external internet sites
