If you are getting tired of the standard prepacked meal deals and price-matched long-life cupboard offers from your local superstores, why not consider Oxfordshire’s farmers’ markets? There are always other options for you to buy fresh local produce which are healthier and tastier.
Image from Thames Valley Farmers’ Market Co-operative
What are farmers’ markets and what can we buy?
A farmers’ market is a physical market place where farmers and other local producers could sell their produce directly to consumers, with no middlemen involved. At a farmers’ market, you can expect to find fruits and vegetables, meat and fish, plants and flowers, jams and honey, pies and cake, wine and cider, eggs and cheese, and much, much more. Some of them may be even characteristic to the area.
However, when looking for fresh local produce in a farmers’ market, you should bear in mind the seasons. Fresh local produce, in particular fruits and vegetables, are seasonal. Don’t expect strawberries in December or apples all year round, although they may be always on offer in supermarkets. It is because goods sold in supermarkets are sourced throughout the world.
Also don’t confuse a farmers’ market with a public market, which is usually located in a permanent structure and open year around. A farmers’ market, instead, operates in a pop-up setting, consisting a number of booths, and could be indoors or outdoors. Some of them open every week, but less frequently for most cases in Oxfordshire.
Another major difference between the two kinds of market is a public market always hosts a wider variety of vendors who may procure their products from outside of the local area or even around the globe. But strictly speaking, at a farmers’ market, primary produce must be grown, reared or caught by the stall owners in a radius of 30-50 miles, and secondary produce must be brewed, picked, baked, smoked or processed using ingredients from the defined local area, according to Thames Valley Farmers’ Market Co-operative, a major organiser of farmers’ markets.
Image from The Oxford Magazine
Why buy at Oxfordshire’s farmers’ markets?
The local produce available at a farmers’ market is fresher, so healthier and taste better.
Since the produce is brought to you by farmers and other local producers, it provides food traceability to consumers. You may ask the farmers or producers how the food is grown or made. They may share with you further details of the production process and ingredients, and advise on the different ways to cook and how to keep and store the food.
Buying at a farmers’ market is also more environmentally friendly. As it’s all about local produce, food miles and packaging are reduced. It’s flexible as well. You can buy as much or as little produce you need, resulting in less food waste.
By the way, attending a farmers’ market could be a great family activity. They could be a place to meet and socialize with friends and neighbours. There are lots of goods to buy, many things to see and a variety of food samples to taste.
Shopping at a farmers’ market may not be as cheap and convenient as in your local superstore. However, it is a real support to the small local business and our community economy. It promotes diverse activities and contributes to the well-being of both the people in the area and the planet in the long run.
Image from Thames Valley Farmers’ Market Co-operative
When & where to find the farmers’ markets in Oxfordshire
The first farmers’ market in the UK was found in Bath in 1997, according to Wikipedia. Since then, farmers’ markets have emerged all over the country. We have compiled a list of Oxfordshire’s farmers’ markets.
Image from Thames Valley Farmers’ Market Co-operative
Abingdon Farmers’ Market
Date: 3rd Friday of every month
Time: 8.30am to 1.30pm
Location: Market Place, Abingdon-on-Thames OX14 3HG
Operated by Thames Valley Farmers’ Market Co-operative
Banbury Farmers’ Market
Date: 1st Friday of every month
Time: 8.30am to 1.30pm
Location: Banbury Market Place, Banbury, Oxfordshire OX16 5UN
Operated by Cherwell District Council, the farmer’s market is held on the same site as the Banbury Charter Market, which has been trading for several centuries since the town was established.
Botley Farmers’ Market
Date: Every Saturday
Time: 10.00am to 2.00pm
Location: West Way, Botley, Oxford OX2 9TJ
Charlbury Farmers’ Market
Date: Taking place quarterly on 2nd Saturday of March, June, September and December
Time: 9.00am to 1.00pm
Location: The Playing Close, Charlbury, Oxfordshire OX7 3RJ
Operated by Thames Valley Farmers’ Market Co-operative
Chipping Norton Farmers’ Market
Date: 3rd Saturday of every month
Time: 8.30am to 1.30pm
Location: Market Place, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire OX7 5NA
Operated by Thames Valley Farmers’ Market Co-operative
Didcot Farmers’ Market
Date: 2nd Saturday of every month (Sep 10, Oct 8, Nov 12, Dec 10)
Time: 8.30am to 1.30pm
Location: Orchard Centre, Didcot, Oxfordshire OX11 7LL
The market is no longer run by Thames Valley Farmers’ Market Co-operative, but one of its members.
Image from The Oxford Magazine
Deddington Farmers’ Market
Date: 4th Saturday of every month (except December)
Time: 9am to 12.30pm
Location: Market Place, Deddington OX15 0SF
Deddington Farmers’ Market was given Farmer’s Market of the Year 2020 & 2021 Oxfordshire Prestige Awards and named The Third Best UK Farmers’ Market by National Geographic Magazine Dec 2017. It features over 40 stalls, offering a variety of local produce.
East Oxford Farmers’ & Community Market
Date: Every Saturday
Time: 10.00am to 1.00pm
Location: East Oxford Primary School, Union Street, Oxford OX4 1JP
The market has been running since August 2006. In addition to the market, there is a café offering breakfasts, lunches, cakes and fair-trade teas and coffee. East Oxford Farmers’ & Community Market is a non-profit making organisation run by a committee and a group of volunteers.
Headington Market
Date: Every Saturday
Time: 9.00am to 2.00pm
Location: London Road, Headington, Oxford OX3 8NX
The market is held by a charity Headington Action and the stall fees are used to fund local community causes.
Date: 2nd Saturday and 4th Thursday of every month
Time: 8.00am to 1.30pm
Location: Henley-on-Thames Town Centre
Market Place, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire RG9 2AQ
The market is brought by Henley-on-Thames Town Council, which also runs a charter market at the same place every Thursday (except the 4th Thursday of every month when it is replaced by the farmers’ market) and a craft market on the 4th Sunday of every month.
North Parade Market
Date: 2nd and 4th Saturday of every month
Time: 10.00am to 2.00pm
Location: North Parade Avenue, Oxford OX2 6LX
With its first market held in 2012, North Parade Market features organic and artisan producers from the local area.
South Oxford Farmers’ and Community Market
Date: Every Sunday
Time: 10am to 2.00pm
Location: South Oxford Community Centre, Lake Street, Oxford OX1 4RP
The weekly market is organized by the Low Carbon South Oxford Community Action Group to promote ethically-produced local organic food (no genetically modified products or ingredients), and support resale of locally-sourced second-hand products such as books and clothing.
Witney Farmers’ Market
Date: 4th Friday of every month
Time: 8.30am to 1.30pm
Location: Witney Market Square, Witney, Oxfordshire OX28 6AP
Operated by Thames Valley Farmers’ Market Co-operative
Wolvercote Community Market
Date: Every Sunday
Time: 10.00am to 12.00noon
Location: White Hart Community Pub, 126 Godstow Road, Oxford OX2 8PQ
The market was first launched in October 2003 by a local organic farmer, and now run by the community to bring local fresh produce to the public. The market is held in a pub wither breakfasts and hot drinks are served.
Woodstock Farmers’ Market
Date: 1st and 3rd Saturday of every month
Time: 8.30am to 1.30pm
Location: Market Square, Woodstock, Oxfordshire OX20 1SL
Operated by Thames Valley Farmers’ Market Co-operative
Summertown Farmers’ Market
Date: Every Sunday
Time: 10.00am to 2.00pm
Location: Summertown Shopping Parade, Banbury Road, Oxford OX2 7DY
This is by no means an exhaustive list of Oxfordshire’s farmers’ markets, but it shows we definitely have choices. There are so many farmers’ markets in Oxfordshire that you can locate one nearby easily. Why not make a visit and shop in a more environmentally friendly way that can also help your local community?
