A scheme that will see business development managers posted on all London wholesale markets is to support local growers sell more fresh produce into the markets.
The promotional effort will be stepped up when markets across the capital come together for the first Markets Month, in September.
New Covent Garden, New Spitalfields, Western International, Borough, Billingsgate and Smithfield have come together to help co-ordinate both projects.
The initiatives are intended to boost the popularity of markets by forging links between primary producers and reaching out to the consumer.
Tom Beeston, who co-ordinates a local food project for London and the South East from New Covent Garden Market - with funding from the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) - was the first of a number of new faces on the London market scene.
The concept will be rolled out to the other markets by November, following a consultation period.
David Smith, director of markets at the Corporation of London, told FPJ: “This is about making links between markets and growers, and it won’t matter if they are part of a co-operative, or if they grow organic or not - it is about showing them that wholesale is an avenue that they might not know much about.”
A number of events will take place in September and October as part of Markets Month, in an attempt to promote markets across the capital.
Smith said: “This event is about highlighting the value of markets, from wholesale sites to retail and street markets.”
No comments yet