Councils must back farmers markets ADAS
6 March 2000
Councils must back farmers’ markets — ADAS
By FWi staff
FARMERS markets need serious financial backing from local authorities if they are to survive their early stages, warns a new report.
The survey by consultants ADAS says, while farmers markets create a wave of enthusiasm and potential, only local authority grants and commercial sponsorship prevent serious financial loss.
Stall fees cannot cover promotional and other costs.
ADAS rural economy consultants Rosemary James and Suzie Russell studied nine market days at seven new sites across Lincolnshire for the report.
“The future success of farmers markets will only be achieved with the active support, commitment and funding of the local authorities,” said Mrs James.
But the report concludes that, while initial local authority backing is high, markets do have a valuable long-term role without continued external support if managed properly from the outset.
Its authors cautions against moving away from the concept of producer-only, reporting signs that non-farmers are filling a vacuum created by high demand.
“This is diluting the core principle and unique selling point of farmers markets, which could prove a slippery slope,” they warn.
The ADAS report, entitled Lincolnshire Farmers Markets Pilot Project Evaluation Report also claim that a major effort is often required to sell the concept of the farmers market to farmers themselves.
Many are said to lack the necessary marketing skills or doubt they have the range of produce required.
A spokeswoman for the National Association of Farmers Markets said while the markets aim to be self-sufficient eventually, local authority help in early stages can really help.
“But its not only farmers who benefit from farmers markets,” she added. “Customers can buy fresh produce on their doorstop, and the local economy can get a boost too.”
She said the NAFM was introducing an accreditation scheme later this year to ensure that farmers markets retained their producer-only selling point.
“We want to make it clear that a farmers market is not an extension of a car boot sale, but a place where local food is sold by local people and that money is staying in the local economy.”
According to latest NAFM figures markets there are now around 200 farmers markets in Britain.