Bishop samples produce from West Somerset Farmers' Market

THE Bishop of Bath and Wells, the Right Rev Peter Price, dropped in on the award-winning West Somerset Farmers’ Market to sample some of the local produce on sale.
The market, which is held every Friday in The Parade, Minehead, was packed with its usual array of fresh produce, ranging from locally-reared meats and game through to organic vegetables, fish, cheeses, herbs, pies, pickles and many others.
The Bishop showed a keen interest in the stalls and sampled some of the local produce and chatted with stallholders and customers as he made his way through the market.
Bishop Peter said: “The value of farmers’ markets is that they bring local people together and generate a real sense of community.
“They support local producers, give residents access to fresh produce, cut down food miles, which is good for the environment, and provide communities with local social events.
“As such, they are important for uniting and contributing to the social and economic well-being of our communities.”
Roger Webber, who runs Hindon Organic Farm, near Minehead, and is chairman of the market, said: “We are delighted the Bishop has taken time out of his busy schedule to visit the market to meet and talk to stallholders.
“It means a lot to us to have his support with regards to selling the district’s fresh produce to local people, and because of his recognition that markets like ours provide focal points for communities.”
The Vicar of Minehead, the Rev Simon Lloyd, said: “We are really pleased the market has been established in the centre of town.
“It is fantastic for local people and helps encourage trade and prosperity, which is great.”
West Somerset Council portfolio holder for economic development and tourism, Councillor Michael Downes, said: “We actively support the local farmers’ market because it helps sustain local businesses, which is good for the district’s economy, while also providing a popular attraction for tourists.”
The West Somerset Farmers’ Market is open from 8.30 am to 2.30 pm.

• Our photographs show (top) Bishop Peter sampling some of the produce from Hindon Organic Farm with Penny Webber (left) and Roger Webber; and (below, left to right) West Somerset Council market towns regeneration officer Pete Vallance, farmers’ market chairman Roger Webber, Councillor Michael Downes, the Right Rev Peter Price, and the Rev Simon Lloyd. Photos submitted.

Runner-up award won by Minehead Farmers' Market

A PRESTIGIOUS award has been won by the West Somerset Farmers’ Market, in Minehead.
It has been named runner-up in Natural England’s Best Farmers’ Market of the Year 2007 contest.
The award was formally presented at the Bath and West Show’s recent Food and Drinks Awards Ceremony.
Farmers’ market chairman Roger Webber, said: “The market has only been up and running for about six months, so we are delighted to receive an award.
“However, it has just whetted our appetites and we want to expand so that next year we make sure we win the top award.
“I would like to thank all the local businesses which make our market such a success, and also local people for their support and encouragement.
“We are always on the look-out for local businesses that lend themselves to farmers’ markets and would encourage anybody thinking of branching out to contact me.”
West Somerset Council’s economic development and tourism portfolio holder, Councillor Michael Downes, said: “The council helped to set up the market and continues to be actively involved with it, so we are thrilled that it is already receiving this sort of recognition.
“I would like to thank Roger and all the producers for their dedication in getting the market off the ground and for making it so successful.
“Initiatives like the market boost the local economy and help support the district’s rural food producers while providing the residents with fresh, healthy local food options - it is a win-win situation and we would like to congratulate everybody involved.”
West Somerset Farmers’ Market is open from 8.30 am to 2.30 pm every Friday in The Parade, Minehead. Roger Webber can be contacted on 01643 705244.

• Our photograph shows (left to right) West Somerset Council market towns regeneration officer Pete Vallance, Councillor Michael Downes, farmers’ market chairman Roger Webber, and market treasurer Margaret Heard. Photo submitted.
  

Continental market brings European produce to West Somerset

WEST Somerset is going cosmopolitan in the food stakes over the weekend with the launch of a Continental market in Minehead.
Fine food from a 40-strong contingent of European producers joins the regular weekly West Somerset Farmers’ Market in the town.
Continental market specialist, Amber Markets Ltd, is working with West Somerset Council on a four-day trial period running from March 29 to April 1.
West Somerset Council economic development portfolio holder, Councillor Nick Messarra, who helped to mastermind the market initiative, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for local people to sample the best local and foreign produce.
“We hope residents and visitors will enjoy not only the flavours, but also the atmosphere that this brings to Minehead.
“We are aiming to bring a wider range of produce to local residents and encourage visitors to stay in Minehead longer, which means they will spend more money in district.
“The local economy will also receive an extra boost because the Continental stall holders and their helpers will need accommodation in the area.”
The Continental market is open from 8.30 am to 5.30 pm.
The regular West Somerset Farmers’ Market is also open for business as usual on Friday, March 30, from 8.30 am to 2.30 pm in The Parade.
A representative of West Somerset Council will be on site or in the immediate vicinity of the market throughout the four-day trial, as will a market co-ordinator from Amber Markets.

• Our photographs show a Continental market held in a different venue. Photos submitted.

Mignon's vindalho becomes an English favourite

TRADITIONAL steak and kidney pudding has been beaten as a favourite English dish, by a pork vindalho from West Somerset.
The choice of an Indian recipe from Mignon Johnson was unanimous by all five judges of a cook-off broadcast on UKTV Food prime time television.
The pork vindalho was cooked by celebrity chef Antony Worrall-Thompson for the show, The People’s Cook Book, which is a nationwide hunt for favourite family recipes best reflecting British contemporary food culture.
Mignon, who runs The Saffron Kitchen from her home in Lydeard St Lawrence, was up against a steak and kidney pudding cooked by another TV chef, Paul Rankin.
Said Mignon: “Everybody thought the steak and kidney would be a natural winner, and even Antony Worrall-Thompson said we would never get the vote of the Women’s Institute judge.
"But the judges all loved it, even the WI lady, and they commented on the delicious range of flavours and how they were surprised that it was not too hot.
“It was great to meet Antony Worrall-Thompson, he is a really nice person with a great sense of humour and is so knowledgeable about food, but I think we surprised even him.”
Mignon’s pork vindalho recipe can be downloaded from the UKTV Food website and it is also planned to be included in a book of the series, which celebrates home cooking.
Publicity surrounding the show has already produced an upsurge in orders for The Saffron Kitchen’s range of traditional home-cooked Indian food, which is available to suit any budget for weddings, dinners, banquets, parties, and corporate entertainment.
Mignon, who is an Indian national, said: “We have added pork vindalho to our regular dishes to meet demand at the farmers’ markets we attend in Minehead, Cotford St Luke, Wellington, Taunton, Crewkerne, Glastonbury, and Exeter, and we have also put it on our standard dinner menu.
“We are also finding more and more retailers want to stock our products.”
The pork vindalho recipe was handed down by Mignon’s mother, who cooked it at home in India whenever a celebration was held.
Mignon said: “I chose pork vindalho for the television programme because I know people think Indian food is blisteringly hot and I wanted to show that it can be can be quite mild enough to be eaten by all the family and what really matters is how you blend the flavours.
“Every dish we prepare at The Saffron Kitchen is real authentic Indian food with each of our sauces individually prepared with a combination of spices blended to recipes handed down through generations of my family so that they taste just as they would in India.
“We cater for all tastes, from the very mild right through to blisteringly hot if that is what people want, and we use as much locally-sourced produce as we can.”
The Saffron Kitchen now supplies select retail shops and delicatessens with its range of authentic home-cooked ready meals, including the SPAR shop, in Wiveliscombe, Bicknoller Village Stores, and the village shop in Stawley.
More information about The Saffron Kitchen and the pork vindalho recipe is available from Mignon and husband Andrew Johnson by telephoning 01984 656931 or emailing to enquiries@thesaffronkitchen.co.uk or by visiting the website www.thesaffronkitchen.co.uk.
They are also attending the Exeter Festival of South West England Food and Drink on March 30 and 31 and April 1.
The Saffron Kitchen is supported by the Exmoor and Quantocks Food Links and also by the European Regional Development Fund.

• Our photograph shows Mignon Johnson with some of the range of food products she uses for The Saffron Kitchen. Photo by Anita Corbin.

Supermarket staff going bananas for Fairtrade

CO-OP supermarket staff in Minehead, Alcombe, Watchet, and Williton will be going bananas on Monday, February 26, at the start of Fairtrade Fortnight.
They will be celebrating the consumer-owned retailer’s announcement that for the first time it is selling Fairtrade bananas in all of its 3,000 food stores.
More than 25,000 Co-op store staff across the country are taking part in the largest-ever simultaneous banana-eating bonanza in the UK as part of the celebrations, starting at 10 am on the day.
As well as taking part in the record-breaking event, local Co-op staff will be ‘monkeying around’ with giant inflatable bananas and monkey masks and costumes, to highlight the good news to shoppers.
The Co-op, which introduced the UK’s first Fairtrade banana back in 2000, currently sells around 22 million Fairtrade bananas, and this is expected to jump to more than 43 million within a year as Fairtrade bananas go on sale in its stores nationwide.
Co-operative Group chief executive of food retail, Guy McCracken, said: “The Co-op has led the way in making Fairtrade mainstream and with more people than ever looking to buy Fairtrade and help producers and their families in the developing countries, this great news means that all our shoppers, from Shetland to Penzance, in rural, island, and urban communities, and in our smallest convenience stores, can support Fairtrade by buying the UK’s favourite fruit.”
The Co-op move also signals a breakthrough in the campaign to support small, independent producers and bears testament to the relationship the Co-op has built with such producers in Ghana, Equador, Costa Rica, and the Windward Isles.
Williton Co-op manager Phil Leat said: “We don’t mind making monkeys of ourselves if it helps to promote this ‘a-peeling’ initiative and encourage many more shoppers to support Fairtrade.”

Local producers help launch Food Town

PRODUCERS and retailers from Exmoor and the Quantock Hills are taking part in the official launch of a Food Town project in Somerset.
Their produce will be showcased at the event in Wellington on Saturday, December 2, from 10 am to 4 pm, where visitors can enjoy free samples of foods and drinks.
Among those involved is West Somerset MP Ian Liddell-Grainger's wife Jill, who makes natural preserves at her home near Williton.

West Somerset food producers' co-operative Source will also be there, as will Tower Farms, of Lydeard St Lawrence, which makes award-winning cheeses.

Shelley Clift will be showing off her home made pies, and Brendon Hill Crafts will have jams and chutneys on display.

Mignon Johnson, of Saffron Kitchen, Lydeard St Lawrence, will be one of a number of chefs giving demonstrations at the event, and will be preparing an Indian breakfast.
The launch will kick-start a five-year initiative to brand Wellington as the ‘Food Town’ of Somerset, in the same way as Ludlow is recognised as the ‘Food Town’ of the Midlands.
The catchment area takes in much of Somerset and a large chunk of Devon, an area which boasts no fewer than eight Rick Stein Food Heroes as well as dozens of other award-winning producers.
Visitors to Wellington on December 2 will be able to enjoy free tastings of some of the best foods and drinks produced in the area and can also take the opportunity to stock up for Christmas. Parking in the town’s car parks will also be free on the day.
The free event will be held in a town centre marquee with around 40 stalls for food producers and a seated area for more than 100 people where expert demonstrations and workshops will be held by several local chefs, including sessions on how to make healthy lunchboxes for schoolchildren and interesting ideas for party food.
Wellington Food Town steering group chairman John Cottrell said: “We hope as many residents as possible from West Somerset will come along on December 2 and enjoy what promises to be a wonderful celebration of some of the finest produce the Westcountry has to offer.
“By supporting the Food Town concept, visitors will be encouraging a healthier retail and service economy for the area, which will mean more local jobs, more tourists and regular visitors, and a thriving local agricultural economy.”
Wellington Food Town is being organised by Wellington Economic Partnership and Somerset Food Links in conjunction with Taunton Deane Borough Council and Wellington Town Council, and is supported by Wellington Chamber of Commerce and Trade and the Wellington Farmers’ Market.
More information is available from Nicky Saunter at Somerset Food Links on 01458 241401 or email nickys@foodlinks.org.uk or by logging on to http://www.wellingtonfoodtown.blogspot.com/.