The awards season is upon us – we’ve had the Golden Globes, the Emmy’s and the Oscars are on their way, but more recently The Hampshire Farmers’ Market Awards – as voted for by the public. No posh frocks or black ties for the awards ceremony, just layers of thermals, body warmers and Antarctic headgear for the winning suppliers, who took a short-break from their stalls to receive their awards in the middle of a busy market day.
Toby Bowtell of Bowtell’s Farm Shop, Steve Newcombe of Broughton Water Buffalo, Trudie Bowtell, Vladimir Mirov of F.A. Secrett’s, Alex Handford – Business Manager Hampshire Farmers’ Markets, Hayley Dunn and Jo Burch of the Flour Stall.Hampshire Farmers’ Market’s most influential audience – the public – voted for The Best Produce, The Best Food to Go, The Best Dressed Stall and The Best Personality from the wide range of suppliers who sell their locally sourced produce at the HFM’s regular venues across the county including Winchester, which is one of the largest farmers’ markets in the country, Alton, Andover, Cosham, Elvetham Heath, Emsworth, Odiham, Petersfield, Romsey and Southsea.
HFM Business Manager Alex Handford commented: “No red carpet this year, just the appreciation of our market visitors who have turned out in all weathers to support their local producers, and who also appreciate the efforts our suppliers make to get to all our markets during the cold, wet and snowy weather – getting up very early and travelling from all corners of the county.”
The award winners are:
Best Produce – Bowtell’s Farm Shop, East Tisted – Bowtell’s have run their family farm since 1910 producing free range meats and poultry including hand reared beef, pork and lamb, to the highest standards of animal welfare using traditional, free range methods.
Best Food to Go – Broughton Water Buffalo – Broughton, Stockbridge – Producers of lean tasty organic water buffalo meat, their Best Food to Go Buffalo Burgers are delicious and very popular at the markets.
Best Dressed Stall – F. A. Secrett’s – Milford – located on the borders of Hampshire and Surrey, F. A. Secrett’s colourful displays of fruit, vegetables, baby leaf salads, herbs and unusual produce create one of the most colourful displays in the market.
Best Personality – The Flour Stall – Andover – is an independent artisan baker using local flours and ingredients from Hampshire.
“Our stall holders want to thank the public for voting for them and for supporting the markets. Buying local not only helps the local economy, but local jobs as well. Our stallholders also really enjoy the direct contact with our market customers, who also have the chance to talk to the producers and to sample the wide range of foods on offer,” concluded Alex Handford.