Voxpop question: Are farmers’ markets a luxury or thrifty?
Stephanie Lobo, 30, chef, Chester
“I would say it’s a luxury because the produce is quite expensive vis-à-vis supermarket prices. But then, you are paying for organic and pesticide free goods.”
Linda Ball, 67, housewife, Borth
“They aren’t a luxury as the price of the goods are actually not that much more than a supermarket and you are meeting the famers that actually grow the produce.”
Dhiresh Singh, 60, DWP, Cardiff
“Thrifty because people get quality products at an economical cost. In addition, they get a social experience.”
Marguerita Brereton, 49, nurse, Bournemouth
“It is quite nice to get the produce directly from the farmers. It becomes a necessary commodity for people who can afford it, or who like a variety of high-end quality food.”
Adrian Gesty, 35, healthcare worker, Poznan
“It is an open space with easy access to people who understand quality. People that visit a market want to buy fresh food at a reasonable price. How is that a luxury?”
The Roath Farmers’ Market was set up in 2008 and sees a footfall of 200 to 250 people per week, while Riverside started in 1998 and averages over a thousand people per week. For more information, visit here
Farmers’ markets have once again been put in the spotlight given the recent nomination of Riverside Community Markets Association (RCMA) to the Sustain Wales Awards 2015. These markets have always been seen as a platform for traders to sell quality local produce. But the question remains— are the benefits worth the extra spend?
Jack Welbourne, a baker and potter thinks it is,“You make a decision to spend more on quality food and eat slightly less of it, or you spend less and eat unhealthy food.”
Gareth Simpson, development manager at RCMA, said although quality produce costs more, it is affordable in the long run. He adds, “Studies show cooking from scratch makes a meal go a lot further. People see the advantage of buying in bulk from famers’ markets and then breaking that across many meals.”
RCMA have been running weekly farmers’ markets since 1998 with this precise notion. We took to the streets to find out what people really had to say about them.
Voxpop question: Are farmers’ markets a luxury or thrifty?
Stephanie Lobo, 30, chef, Chester
“I would say it’s a luxury because the produce is quite expensive vis-à-vis supermarket prices. But then, you are paying for organic and pesticide free goods.”
Linda Ball, 67, housewife, Borth
“They aren’t a luxury as the price of the goods are actually not that much more than a supermarket and you are meeting the famers that actually grow the produce.”
Dhiresh Singh, 60, DWP, Cardiff
“Thrifty because people get quality products at an economical cost. In addition, they get a social experience.”
Marguerita Brereton, 49, nurse, Bournemouth
“It is quite nice to get the produce directly from the farmers. It becomes a necessary commodity for people who can afford it, or who like a variety of high-end quality food.”
Adrian Gesty, 35, healthcare worker, Poznan
“It is an open space with easy access to people who understand quality. People that visit a market want to buy fresh food at a reasonable price. How is that a luxury?”
The Roath Farmers’ Market was set up in 2008 and sees a footfall of 200 to 250 people per week, while Riverside started in 1998 and averages over a thousand people per week. For more information, visit here