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I would like to apologise to anyone who visited the
Chiswick Farmers Market last Sunday and was disappointed by it’s being
closed. Throughout last week I followed advice from MAFF, which was that the market
could continue, providing certain precautionary measures were taken and no
farmers from affected areas attended.
On Friday the advice changed and the decision on whether to continue was
delegated to the Local Authority. Hounslow Council have been very supportive
of the market, but in the light of the advice, which they received from MAFF,
they were obliged to ask us to cancel.
MAFF have clarified the position regarding Farmers Markets and issued
guidelines concerning their continuation. Hounslow Council
have therefore now agreed to the market re opening from this Sunday on
the basis that farmers attending make themselves aware of the latest
information concerning the foot and mouth outbreak and take the recommended
precautions. The Council may also ask that we have no meat producers.
The farmers who attend Farmers Markets are small producers, opting out of the
intensive systems that have contributed to the current problems. At Chiswick
we have a variety of stalls with only four actually selling meat. These
produce a quality product with high standards of animal welfare. A number of
our farms are open to the public, Sheepdrove Organic has nature trails around
the farm and is proud to show visitors how farming can work with, and enhance
the environment an countryside.
The Farmers Market movement offers a sustainable alternative to the large
scale agri-business which farming has become. It brings the producers of food
and customers closer together in a way that allows people to question how
their food is produced. Because the farmers receive the full value for their
product they do not suffer the relentless pressure to reduce costs
experienced by farmers selling into the wholesale distribution networks.
The farmers really need the public’s support at this difficult time, and we
hope that the terrific support the Chiswick Farmers Market has enjoyed in the
past will continue.
Yours sincerely
Secretary
The
Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food View on Farmers Markets
Link
to MAFF
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