The Lord Mayor of the City of London Fiona Woolf has praised the 'good spirit and camaraderie' at the 'heaving' New Spitalfields Market in Leyton.
Woolf spoke to FPJ while visiting Britain's premier wholesale fruit, vegetable and flower market - which has operated under a Royal Charter since 1682 and is owned and managed by the City of London Corporation-this morning.
She was welcomed by Master Fruiterer Peter Cooper, and NABMA chairman Graeme Wilson, and was led on a tour of the market by Chris Hutchinson, chairman of the tenants' association.
On a breakfast after the tour, the Lord Mayor received a cheque from the market for £500, payable to The Lord Mayor's Appeal 2014, and was presented with some of the market's best fruit and flowers.
Woolf said:“New Spitalfields Market plays a vital role in the food chain of the capital and beyond, is a big boost to local employment, and helps shape a sustainable food economy.
'I came here three years ago as a sheriff (of the City of London), and you learn a lot. There is a fantastic international flavour, which demonstrates the way the demographics and tastes of this city have changed, and it was great to experience the good spirit and camaraderie first-hand. It's absoloutely heaving with traders too, and that is excellent to see.'
About 750,000 tonnes of fresh fruit, vegetables and flowers pass through New Spitalfields Market every year, and its customers include secondary wholesalers, retailers and smaller catering supply businesses.
