Market News from the Scottish Farmers' Market

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News Release: 6 June 2009

FARMERS’ MARKET CELEBRATES NINE YEARS

The award-winning Edinburgh Farmers’ Market, which takes place every Saturday on Castle Terrace, is celebrating nine years of supplying fresh, locally produced and sourced produce.

Today, 6 June, to celebrate the anniversary and re-launch of the Famers’ Market website and branding, added attractions included special offers, entertainment, music and Neil Forbes, Head Chef at the Atrium Restaurant, cooking some of Scotland’s finest fresh produce al fresco.

The Edinburgh Farmers’ Market is key to enabling many local producers to survive, grow and prosper in difficult times, and has been the launch pad for many successful businesses including Falco Konditormeister. The market began in June 2000 and since then, has gone from strength to strength with 64 producers and stall-holders now regularly attending. 

Edinburgh Central MSP Sarah Boyack said: "I am a regular visitor to the farmers' market and I am delighted to see how it has grown over the last nine years.The range and quality of products available is amazing and the market continues to be a massive draw for locals and tourists alike with around 5000 people passing through on a weekly basis.

The vast majority of stallholders sell goods that they have produced themselves so the market provides a vital outlet, generating in excess of £1million a year. Congratulations to the market on its ninth anniversary celebrations and I am sure that it will continue to go from strength to strength in the future."

Tom Campbell, Chief Executive for Essential Edinburgh, explained the relaunch: “We work in conjunction with the farmers and producers to ensure the market is the best that it can be.  It provides essential income for the stallholders and there have been many changes over the years, as we continually strive to offer visitors the optimum shopping experience.

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“For the ninth anniversary, we have launched a new website and unveiled new branding and produce-related flags for the stalls, to demonstrate that the market offers shoppers a forward-thinking and distinctive place to enjoy shopping for high-quality, locally produced food and produce, in an unbeatable location.”

For more information on Edinburgh Farmer’s Market visit: www.edinburghfarmersmarket.com

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Issued on behalf of Essential Edinburgh by Benchmark PR.

For more information please contact David Forsyth 0131 225 0780 or Pauline Steven on 07795 461056.

Notes to Editors:

• The majority of the stallholders at the Farmers’ Market are primary producers, growing what they sell. A quarter offer meat products including specialities such as wild boar, venison, ostrich and water buffalo. Organic beef, chicken, lamb and pork are also available. Other types of produce include fish (lobster in-season), free-range eggs (including duck eggs), cheese, seasonal fruit and vegetables, honey, chillies and plants. In addition visitors will find producers who bake and prepare their own farm products. Guest producers provide specialities including organic beer, liqueurs, bread, chocolates and chutneys.

• Edinburgh Farmers’ Market began as a monthly event run by the City of Edinburgh Council in 2000.  Responsibility for the operation of the market passed to Edinburgh City Centre Management in early 2001.

• Edinburgh Farmers’ Market was awarded the title of ‘Certified Farmers’ Market of the Year 2007’ by industry body FARMA, from 550 hopefuls, and it was voted ‘Britain’s Favourite Farmers’ Market 2006’ in a competition run by Country Life Magazine.

• Essential Edinburgh is the Capital’s first Business Improvement District (BID), and Scotland’s fifth.  The company was formed in July 2008 following a successful BID ballot in May 2008.  Edinburgh City Centre Management Company (ECCM) proposed the BID and progressed the proposal to the positive ballot.  Following the announcement in May ECCM ceased operation on 1 July, with Essential Edinburgh taking over all staff and most projects.

Essential Edinburgh’s vision is to ensure that Edinburgh City Centre excels as a place to work, a place to do business, a place to shop and a place to visit. 

www.essentialedinburgh.co.uk 

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