In his speech at the World Union of Wholesale Markets Conference on 26 June, Jim Fitzpatrick MP, the new minister for Food, Farming and the Environment, praised farmers' markets for being an important and intrinsic part of our communities. 

"When you take a moment to think about the place markets hold in our society, you realise just how important they are.

We know how vital markets can be to the viability of town and city centres up and down the country. They promote vitality across the surrounding area giving other retailers and businesses a boost financially from the ripple effect.  In Winchester, WH Smith and Debenhams (two of the UK’s largest high street retailers) are both adjacent to the local farmer’s market and reported a rise in takings of up to 30 percent on market days.  That’s just one example. A National Farmers Union study found that 80 percent of neighbouring businesses saw a boost in trade following the establishment of a market nearby.

Markets create local jobs for local people.  They provide opportunities for start-up business and opportunities for farmers to diversity.  Markets have been shown to bring life back into town centres and can play a part in reinstating individuality to the local area.  In rural areas, they can provide a focus for the local economy.

And when you visit a local market, you see their importance in increasing community spirit through social interaction – the relationships formed can be particularly important in looking out for the welfare of the elderly and infirm.

But above all, markets give people genuine choice.... one of the key things I’ve learnt in my first few weeks in this job is that consumers increasingly want to know more about the food they eat, how it is produced and where it comes from. The general perception that the quality of supermarket food is in every case superior as well as cheaper is, I think, misplaced.  A lot of retailers focus too much on the aesthetic value of food and not its taste. Consumers want food that they can taste and that is good value.

Increasingly, they are recognising that food not only needs to be healthy but also needs to be produced sustainably. We can’t have one and ignore the other. Markets can exploit this demand by supplying good value, locally, in season produce. It’s better for consumers’ pockets because not only is seasonal food available when production costs are at their lowest; but also because it’s better for the environment, as it requires less inputs and it is at its best. Just think of strawberries in June or Coxs in October.

As Food Minister, I will certainly be looking at what I can do to promote them."

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