Market manager Kardien Gerbrands talks about Swindon farmers' markets

DID you know that since the beginning of February Hinton Marsh Farm have been roasting a whole pig at the farmers’ market every week?

On occasion they have done a whole lamb but the popularity of the whole roast has meant that a lamb is just too small to cater for everyone. The drive to improve their hot food offer (they have always had the hot dogs and burgers on the barbecue, and still do) came from the outrageously low prices of whole pigs at the wholesale cattle market where meat prices are dominated by cheap meat being imported from abroad.

In February Hinton Marsh found they were getting just £45-£50 for their free range pork; £50 after two years of rearing! Thankfully the popularity of the hog roast has stopped them going bankrupt! The roast pork, cut straight from the hog, is served in a bap with apple sauce and a range of condiments and has proved so popular they have residents coming to take the filled baps home.

This week’s Market Manager’s Choice is the Neustift Goat Dairy soft cheese. These wonderfully mild and yet tasty cheeses are freshly packed on the morning of the market and come in a range of flavours including black pepper, garlic and lovage and lavender.

They are all made by hand with the expertise that come from many years of practice. The cheeses have won a number of awards over the years including a gold at the World Cheese Awards. Find them this Sunday from 10am-4pm at the Designer Outlet.

Markets

  • Bradford on Avon, third Thursday, 9am to 1pm at Westbury Gardens, BA15 1DE.
  •  Bradford on Avon, last Sunday, 10.30am to 2.30pm at Lamb Yard, BA15 1FG.
  •  Calne, second Saturday, 9am to 1pm, near the library, SN11 0JU.
  •  Corsham, third Saturday, 9am to 1pm, High Street SN13 0HB.
  •  Devizes, first Saturday, 9am to 1pm, Market Place l Malmesbury, second and fourth Saturdays, 9am to 1pm, Market Cross 
  •  Royal Wootton Bassett, fourth Saturday, 9am to 1pm, High Street.
  •  Salisbury, weekly on Wednesdays, 9am to 2pm, Poultry Cross.
  •  Swindon Farmers’ Market, every Sunday, 10am to 4pm, Swindon Designer Outlet, Kemble Drive, SN2 2DY.
  •  Havelock Square Farmers’ Market, Swindon, every Thursday, 9am to 2.30pm.
  •  Trowbridge, second and fourth Friday, 9am to 1pm, Fore Street, BA14 8HX.
  •  Wanborough, third Saturday, 9am to midday, Wanborough Village Hall.
  •  Warminster, first and third Fridays, 9am to 1pm, central car park, BA 12 9BT