onionbagblog

Another month, another Wivenhoe Farmer’s Market at the Congregational Hall. They are a sturdy lot, these farmer types. With the Wivenhoe weather more suited to paddy fields rather than poultry farming, the rain didn’t deter the five fruit ‘n veg a day hunters.

I needed meat. Preferably raw meat that I could devour with my bare hands on the short walk back to base. But failing that, a selection of frozen half cuts from the brilliant bargain bin from Primrose Farm should see me through the weekend.

The good lady farmer Mss Primrose didn’t disappoint. Four bargain offerings of your finest sausage meat, Madam, and I had a farmer’s rosy glow to my cheeks.

Spicing things up in the Congregational Hall was the welcome addition of a Caribbean traditional food stall. It wasn’t quite jerk chicken comes to Wivenhoe, but the added variety seemed to be going down well.

Back to basics outside, and I also stocked up with onions, lettuce and a particularly long cucumber. It put my prize courgette to shame, both in size and succulence.

I still find it slightly disappointing that basic veg such as apples, oranges and bananas etc are about as rare as those mythical badgers along the banks of the Colne. No worries - a brief trip down to the ever reliable Cansdale and Ross and we were soon sorted.

These are interesting (and slightly worrying) times for the hyperlocal Wivenhoe fruit and veg trade. I like to try and support both the Farmer’s Market and Cansdale.

I hate to rain on yer parade, but we certainly would miss them, if either were to disappear…

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