“© 2017 Country Markets Limited.  COUNTRY MARKETS, COUNTRY MARKET, COUNTRY MARKETS COOK· CRAFT· GROW, the COUNTRY MARKETS COOK· CRAFT· GROW logo, THE COOKS OF COUNTRY MARKETS, and the THE COOKS OF COUNTRY MARKETS logo are the Registered Trademarks of Country Markets Limited.”

COUNTRY MARKETS

For more than 100 years a network of about 250 Country Markets across England and Wales have been selling homemade baked goods, preserves, garden-grown fruit and vegetables, plants and handmade crafts. Visitors to these markets can buy a variety of produce – almost anything local and seasonal that can be produced in a domestic kitchen or garden. Alongside the homemade goods many Country Markets also sell meat, fish and dairy goods, honey and eggs from local producers.

Country Markets are held weekly in a variety of venues in cities, towns and villages and Producers also participate in Farmers’ Markets, Town Markets, County Agricultural and specialist food shows. The Producers pride themselves on keeping traditional home cooking, home growing and hand crafted items alive, as well as creating the latest up to date produce. 

Producers, who are Members of this Co-operative Social Enterprise called Country Markets, are organised into local Co-operative Societies registered under the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014. Membership is open to anyone over the age of 16; the cost of joining is just 5p – the modern equivalent of an old shilling. Everything is sold co-operatively; producers receive payment at the end of every month for their sales, minus a small commission to cover running costs and insurance.

Country Markets aim to encourage the public to discover the diversity and deliciousness of local British homemade baked goods, preserves, garden-grown fruit and vegetables. They also showcase the skills and talents of local craftsmen and artists. Producers pride themselves on the quality of their produce and the friendliness of their Markets, many of which have become popular, lively meeting places.

Country Markets has been part of the Making Local Food Work Project which focused on promoting community enterprises as a solution to local food needs; its aims to reconnect consumers to the land by increasing access to fresh, healthy local food.

BigBarn have been working with us for around 15 years and our partnership allows us to access a local food map to find a market near to you.