Market manager Kardien Gerbrandstalks about Swindon farmers' markets

Obviously in my position I’m a bit of a local food fanatic.

What this means in real terms is that I try very hard not to eat anything out of season. So, for example, I wouldn’t buy strawberries from the supermarket out of season. The downsides to this are obvious but the plus side may be a little harder to perceive.

This coming Sunday will present the opportunity for one of my favourite “moments of the year”.

There are a few of them throughout the 12 months and they relate to the time when a new fruit or vegetable finally becomes available at the market.

This weekend should see the first of the season’s Strawberries and thus the “moment of the year” presents the opportunity to make a Rhubarb and Strawberry Crumble. Ahh, wonderful! So tangy, fruity and sweet all at once; and VERY healthy of course!

Like many of my “moments of the year” this opportunity won’t present itself for many weeks because the rhubarb will be finishing soon enough and won’t be available again until next year. So you see, the pleasure of eating local is that you actually get excited when something that wasn’t available for months is finally ready. Simple things like this make the world go round.

Markets

  • Bradford on Avon, third Thursday, 9am to 1pm at Westbury Gardens, BA15 1DE.
  •  Bradford on Avon, last Sunday, 10.30am to 2.30pm at Lamb Yard, BA15 1FG.
  •  Calne, second Saturday, 9am to 1pm, near the library, SN11 0JU.
  •  Corsham, third Saturday, 9am to 1pm, High Street SN13 0HB.
  •  Devizes, first Saturday, 9am to 1pm, Market Place l Malmesbury, second and fourth Saturdays, 9am to 1pm, Market Cross
  •  Royal Wootton Bassett, fourth Saturday, 9am to 1pm, High Street.
  •  Salisbury, weekly on Wednesdays, 9am to 2pm, Poultry Cross.
  •  Swindon Farmers’ Market, every Sunday, 10am to 4pm, Swindon Designer Outlet, Kemble Drive, SN2 2DY.
  •  Havelock Square Farmers’ Market, Swindon, every Thursday, 9am to 2.30pm.
  •  Trowbridge, second and fourth Friday, 9am to 1pm, Fore Street, BA14 8HX.
  •  Wanborough, third Saturday, 9am to midday, Wanborough Village Hall.
  •  Warminster, first and third Fridays, 9am to 1pm, central car park, BA 12 9BT