The National Farmers’ Retail & Markets Association (FARMA) has announced the winners of its Farm Retailer of the Year, Farmers’ Market of the Year and Best Farm Retail Newcomer. The Awards, and certificates for the regional finalists, were presented at the FARMA national conference in Torquay on 14 November.

The 2007 FARMA CERTIFIED FARMERS’ MARKET OF THE YEAR award, sponsored by Zapp Canopy Umbrellas and Chillerz, went to Edinburgh Farmers’ Market, recognising its transition to a weekly presence while retaining and growing its range of some 50 stallholders without compromising quality or the ethos of farmers’ markets. Various promotions involved customers in the market as a dynamic organisation. Its managers, Richard Darke and Tristram Maclean at Edinburgh City Centre Management have also developed a number of ‘satellite’ farmers’ markets in schools to promote a local foods, healthy-eating message and bring new customers to the main market – something which the judges felt could be a useful example for others in developing farmers’ markets.

Regional finalists for this award were:
Midlands: Kings Norton Farmers’ Market, Birmingham
Scotland and the North: Edinburgh Farmers’ Market
South East: Milford Farmers’ Market, Surrey
South-West: Stroud Farmers’ Market, Gloucestershire
Wales: Haverfordwest Farmers’ Market, Pembrokeshire