Did you know that one in every eight poundsspent in the UK in 2007 was at a Tesco supermarket? That is a pretty shocking figure really, particularly with the rising concern over global climate change and reducing the number of food miles.

However there are alternatives. Farmers markets are nothing new but they have seen a resurgence in popularity of late and those already established are increasing their frequency.

When these markets first graced our streets, they were considered to be rather expensive and aimed at the middle classes. Happily this situation has changed and they are now viewed as a great way of buying good quality, affordable, local produce and have become an activity that many people now make an integral part of their weekly shop.

At most Farmers Markets you will find producers and suppliers of meat, poultry, fresh fish, jams, chutneys, fruit and vegetables and and even speciality cheeses and wine and beer. Some of the suppliers might have wanted to supply to the likes of Tesco a few years ago, but with an ever growing list of demands and price cuts and the increase in popularity of the markets, local producers are finding that they are able to maintain a higher level of control over their businesses, livelihoods and production methods.

One of the many advantages of buying from a farmers market is that the farmer or producer will be manning their stall and you can find out all you need to know about what you are buying.

The responsible aspect of using Farmers Markets greatly reduces the food miles your purchases will have travelled. It means that you know the produce you are buying will have been locally reared, grown or produced – maybe not always from Fife itself but it won’t be from too far away. You will also be giving your money straight to the farmer or producer, rather than their little cut coming out of the supermarket coffers.

Fife Farmers’ Market was established in 2001 after a group of local producers got together to organise selling their products directly to the consumer. With the help of the SAOS, they established a co-operative which currently has 16 members and all are stallholders with other stallholders being invited to join them at the markets.

Says market co-ordinator Jimmy Wilson: “The markets have gone from strength to strength and despite current economical climates they have continued to be busy. All stallholders must sell food they have produced and that is better than what can be bought elsewhere - fresher, tastier, better quality. We have to have an edge. The strawberries we sell for example will be 24 hours fresher than those in the supermarket.”

All stallholders are allowed only to sell produce grown or produced by the seller allowing for complete traceability. Discerning customers will find a wide range of high quality products grown on farms or produced by hand.

MONTHLY MARKETS ARE HELD IN:
ST.ANDREWS on the first Saturday of every month
DUNFERMLINE on the second Saturday of every month
CUPAR on the third Saturday of every month
KIRKCALDY on the last Saturday of every month

Original smokies from Arbroath
A familiar face at Fife Farmers Markets and various outdoor events around Scotland, Iain R Spink is a 5th generation fish smoker specialising in freshly made Arbroath Smokies and Hot-Smoked Rainbow Trout. Iain’s smokies have been widely acclaimed by many of the country’s celebrity chefs and won him numerous national awards including 2006 BBC Radio Food and Farming Awards ‘Best Food Producer’ and 2006 UKTV Food Scottish Champion.
Uniquely, everything is smoked on site using traditional methods dating back 100s of years. The hot and juicy smokies emerging straight from the fire are then de-boned and ready to eat on-the-spot, or taken home for later consumption.
Iain also does a range of wet and smoked fish products, including Loch Duart Salmon, smoked trout fish-cakes, pate, dressed crab etc.

Dalachy Beef
Farmed with passion by brothers Tom and Watson Inglis, ably assisted by their wives Wilma and Sheena, Dalachy is a mixed farm with many arable acres on the south-facing hillsides just outside Aberdour. The Aberdeen Angus beef herd and the Dalachy Texel flock are the farm’s true pride producing succulent and tender naturally reared beef and lamb.

Olives & Thingz
A family run business based in Greenock, this company aims to provide the best collection of deli products on the west coast. They supply delis and restaurants locally with only the best quality product and in particular of course, all the olives you can imagine.

Bellfield Organic Nursery
A family business based in Abernethy, which has been farming organically for 15 years, Bellfield Organics has now moved away from supplying the supermarkets and is concentrating on supplying customers directly through farmers markets and box schemes.

They produce all their own plants from seed, grow in the field and then deliver to your door. Picked the day before delivery, the produce is fresh, healthy and tasty. As well as veg, they also deliver organic fruit, eggs, bread and milk. The box scheme means that you cut out the middleman, ensuring you get your supplies direct and of course it is an environmentally friendly option.

Nelson’s Farm Ice Cream
Good quality deliciously creamy ice cream has been developed on this dairy farm after a trip to Italy brought inspiration. New and unique flavours are created (tested by the children) and you’ll find the ice cream on the menu in local restaurants as well as at your local farmers market. Flavours include Wild Berry (delicate raspberries, blue berries, and refreshing strawberries and blackberries are united), Cappuccino (an aromatic coffee sauce enriched with mild cream) and award winning Crème Caramel (a rich and creamy ice cream with tempting sweet caramel).

Puddledub Pork and Bacon
Real dry cured-bacon, fine hams, delicious sausages and fresh tasty pork are offered by this small family business in Auchtertool. With 16 different fresh sausage recipes, ranging from plain pork, to lemon and fennel, there’s something for everyone says owner Tom Mitchell.

The gammon and bacon are cold smoked using oak and Beechwood chippings and there is a large selection of delicious fresh cuts of pork. “The best bacon in Scotland,” according to Lady Claire MacDonald.

Puddledub Buffalo
On the same farm as the Puddledub Pork and Fifeshire Bacon, Steve Mitchell rears a herd of water buffalo along with a herd of pedigree Aberdeen Angus cattle and a flock of Jacob sheep.

Buffalo has the highest protein and iron value and lowest cholesterol fat and calorific value than any meat in the world so it is certainly in demand. At both the farmers markets and the new shop in Kennoway, the products sold are varied from delicious cuts of buffalo meat to steak pies, burgers and sausages.

Achray Farm Baking
Achray Farm Baking specialises in traditional homebaking. They make the finest scones, cakes, bread, puddings, jams and chutneys in small batches by hand. They don’t use any ‘ready mixes’ which means you can be sure of exactly what has gone into the products. Everything is produced in a dedicated kitchen at Achray Farm - a smallholding in the heart of the Trossachs, and the baking is sold through the farmers’ markets and at other events throughout central Scotland. You’ll find them at farmers’ markets in St Andrews and Kirkcaldy.

www.fifefarmersmarket.co.uk