Have you ever wished that the farmers market phenomenon was a little easier to access? I am desperate to get involved, but with a busy schedule that means I have trouble even remembering which day the bins go out, I never quite manage to make it. Despite Putney and Cirencester being within potential easy reach, it still seems to be a marathon mission to remember date, location, parking change and shopping basket.
Local produce is without doubt the way forward and as a campaigner for all things artisan and local I feel a sting of frustration every time I visit the supermarket and pick up a vegetable or joint of meat flown in from Outer Mongolia. The answer appears to have arrived.
A farmers market which collects together all things ‘locally' produced on the same site and puts you in touch with the producer. Growing at a rapid rate of knots, the Virtual Farmers Market, set up by Marcus Carter while working on his market stall at the Partridges Farmer's Market in Chelsea, London, still has stalls available. Incredibly easy to install, the experience is altogether satisfactory. Explore the market by navigating round the stalls, ‘meet' the producers via video streams and buy the products.
Jack O'Shea, Paxton & Whitfield, Luscombe Drinks and Sillfield Farm all have a presence there and frankly, that is recommendation enough for me. Minimum order is £35 and delivery charge from £5.
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