Cheshire producers celebrate 200th community farmers market

Families who take pride in growing an array of fresh produce celebrate their 200th monthly farmers market on Sunday, February 6.

Organic farmer Janet Harrison has been welcoming producers from all over Cheshire into her barn at Abbey Leys Farm on Peacock Lane in High Legh every month for 17 years.

"We had an empty shed so we thought we'd try it," said Janet, who runs her farm with husband Tim, son Shaun and daughter Rosemary. "It took off straightaway.

Janet Harrison, husband Tim and daughter Rosemary at Abbey Leys Farm

"It is led by a community of volunteers who feel passionately about local, fresh produce and low food miles.

"We have been supported by dedicated customers who have a real interest in sustainable produce."

Janet sells free range organic eggs, grows Cheshire potatoes and fresh vegetables, bakes cakes and produces honey.

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Products ranging from cheese, preserves, chocolate, pies and soup to fudge, venison, goat products, sauces, pasta and local crafts are displayed each month by around 20 traders.

"It is fun and we meet some great people and lovely stallholders," said Janet. "People can talk to all of us about where our food comes from.

"Everything is grown, reared, caught, pickled, brewed, smoked or produced by stallholders."

Mobberley farmer Helen Southworth sells raw milk produced by her small herd of Jersey cows, with help from husband Stephen, son Thomas and fiancee Tiff Lavin.

Thomas Southworth and dad Stephen milking Delilah at GreenOaks Farm

"It's fantastic," said Helen. "We love it. We all have a good laugh and everyone gets on.

Calves Rosie, Alma and Mavis at GreenOaks Farm

"You meet a lot of like-minded people who are interested in where their food comes from.

"We keep calves with mums when they are born and lots of people like that.

"We are very open about what we do. People can come and watch our cows being milked."

Baker Tina Girard said: "It's a lovely market with chickens running round.

Tina Girard, from Tinaz Kitchen, with some of her cakes

"I come from a long line of bakers and cake makers."

Some of Tina Girard's home bakes

Alan Hewitt and wife Carolyn turn fresh fruit from a 20-acre orchard into apple juice.

Carolyn Hewitt picking apples

Alan said: "It's the camaraderie between stallholders that I enjoy."

John Bourne, who produces Cheshire cheese with wife Juliet-Anne, from a herd of 170 cows, said: "You can't buy our cheese in the supermarket, you need to come to us.

"It's a convivial market and is a lifeline for us."

Producers taking part in Sunday's market include Bournes Cheese, Alisons Homemade, Tigermuffin soaps, Abbey Leys Farm, Great North Pie Co, Keepers Cottage, Owl Farm, The Chocolate Geranium Co, Mobberley Icecream, The Shedman, Powells Pies, GreenOaks Farm, Dunham Massey Apple Juice, Ka Kita Ahua, Janes Handmade Bread, Jacks Forge and Tinaz Kitchen.

The market, held on the first Sunday of the month, is accredited by the Farm Retail Association, and won the Farm Retail Association Farmers Market of the Year Award in 2019.