Local farmers, farm shops and pick your own food finds

Big Barn is a great place to find your local suppliers, just punch in your post code and how far afield you want to look for your food and it lists the suppliers in your area.

Rosie

BigBarn is a great website!  I found some good information there (looking forward to searching out the farmers market I found there!), however, I'm still in search of organic and/or health food stores around the Glasgow area.  My husband and I will be moving there in August and I use a lot of natural foods and skincare products and hope to find a good place to shop once we get there.  Thanks!

Anyone know of any good organic/local markets by Northallerton? I'm a health nut and though Marks & Spencer is decent it is obviously GMO'd.  Besides I prefer to help out the local folks.

Anyone know of any good organic/local markets by Northallerton? I'm a health nut and though Marks & Spencer is decent it is obviously GMO'd.  Besides I prefer to help out the local folks.

I don't know anything about Northallerton, but most communities in the UK seem to have farm shops and weekly markets with local fresh produce.

Northallerton has the super (expensive!) Lewis and Cooper deli (see www.lewis-and-cooper.co.uk), with some organic produce.  The town centre Tesco supermarket has a good range of organic produce (but mostly sourced from overseas).  Otherwise, there is a monthly farmers market (every 4th Wed) in the town and a 'regular' street market twice a week on Wed and Sat.

Just outside the town is the wonderful Low Leases organic farm, who can deliver organic produce on a weekly basis - have a look at the website www.lowleasesorganicfarm.co.uk).

You'll be spoiled for choice!!

I went to my farmer's market today here in Royal Oak, Michigan.  I bought two HUGE bouquets of fresh flowers (dahlias, snap dragons, little daisy like things, stock, statis) for $5 a piece, a good size bag of fresh granola for $4, a quart of fresh raspberries for $3.50.  I am always so impressed with the variety and amazing prices, and was thinking that I will really miss this when I move.  It's good to know there are good farmer's markets in England as well.  I hope I'll be able to find something in Sheffield once I move.  Nothing better than starting a beautiful Saturday morning at the market, in the sun, sniffing all the good sniffs. 

~Liza

No worries... there is a farmer's market in Sheffield!

http://www.sheffieldmarkets.co.uk/specialist-market.php?id=3

There's a farm by my mil, and she sells fresh eggs. She has a little cart right outside the gate with a little box to put your money in. The eggs she sells are really nice, the yolk is really yellow. Sometimes the hens wander around outside the gates, it's fun to watch them.

The eggs she sells are really nice, the yolk is really yellow.

My mom always had chickens when I was a kid. They had full range of the property during the day and thier egg yolks were almost orange. The first time I cracked a store bought egg, I was SHOCKED lol.

No worries... there is a farmer's market in Sheffield!

http://www.sheffieldmarkets.co.uk/specialist-market.php?id=3

Ooo!!  Cool!  Thanks!  I bookmarked this one for sure.  A shame it's only once a month though - but it's better than nothing. 

~Liza

Most of the farmers markets *are* only once a month in each location, but they move around.  So you may find (and these are all just made up, btw!)  that Sheffield is on the 1st Saturday of the month, Chesterfield is on the 2nd Saturday, Rotherham is on the 3rd, and Barnsley is on the 4th... so you could go to them all if you wanted! 

My mom always had chickens when I was a kid. They had full range of the property during the day and thier egg yolks were almost orange. The first time I cracked a store bought egg, I was SHOCKED lol.

I know what you mean!! My aunt has chickens and I love getting eggs from her "girls" (as she calls them). Store-bought egg yolks are so anemic looking!

Ah organic food,

We eat primarily organic food here in the states and I am wondering if it will be hard to find when we mov eto the UK. We are thinking that we will be in the Northumberland area. Any info? I have also heard that more of the food sold in the UK is less likely to artificial ingredients than in the US. Is this true?

I'm not positive, since I haven't been to the states in years, but I think it's easier to find it.  Most supermarkets will have a fairly large selection of organic food. 

I have also heard that more of the food sold in the UK is less likely to artificial ingredients than in the US. Is this true?

I do think this is true.... For instance, I'm pretty sure that's why bread goes off here so fast if it's not in the fridge (when I first moved over I couldn't believe how fast it got mouldy - now I realize, uh, that's what it's supposed to do - it would be scary if it lasted for a long time!  )