Date May 24th 2010
The new MP for Winchester & Chandler’s Ford, Steve Brine, met local Hampshire Farmers’ Market producers at Chandler’s Ford yesterday (Sunday 23rd May 2010). Already a Farmers’ Market regular, Steve Brine MP toured the site and chatted to stallholders, guided by Market Manager for Chandler’s Ford, Ellen Box.
Steve Brine was elected to parliament for the Conservatives with a majority of 3,000, taking the seat from the Liberal Democrats.
Hampshire Farmers Markets is a not-for-profit organisation that organises FARMA accredited Farmers’ Markets around the county. In order to sell at the market, stallholders must have grown, reared, baked, bottled or otherwise produced their goods within the county or ten miles of its borders. This ensures the truly local character of the market, supporting the local economy and providing the community with food that has travelled few miles before reaching them.
Steve Brine said, “So many good things have been written about the Farmers’ Markets and it’s all true in my opinion! They are so clearly an idea whose time has come and people respond to that each time by turning out and spending their hard earned money. It was really good to meet the producers at Chandler’s Ford and to hear so many positive stories of thriving small businesses from this area and further afield. My wife, Susie and I regularly pop along to the Farmers’ Market, either here or at the more regular event held in Winchester, and it’s the sheer quality of produce on offer that keeps us coming back.”
Hampshire Farmers’ Markets’ Business development Manager Alex Handford said, “We are delighted to welcome Steve Brine to Chandler’s Ford during his first month as an elected Member of Parliament. It is important to us that the work of our producers is highlighted and their interests are represented. As an enthusiastic market-goer already, I am sure Mr Brine will be one of our biggest supporters.”
This coming Bank Holiday weekend, Hampshire Farmers’ Market has markets on Sunday 30th at Winchester and Monday 31st at Odiham. The following weekend is the Petersfield Food Festival on 6th June.
The image is of Eastleigh Councillor Godfrey Olson , Steve Brine MP and Ellen Box, Hampshire Farmers’ Markets’ Chandler’s Ford Market Manager.
