We’ve had Radio 4 and Channel 4’s Dispatches team contact us so far this year,” says Chris Hutchinson, chair of Spitalfields Market Tenants’ Association.

It’s only a handful of days into 2013, but already two influential media channels have been talking to London’s New Spitalfields Market. The issue of food sourcing and pricing is one that is set to dominate this year’s headlines, as the effects of detrimental weather further kick in and the low yields of certain produce push up costs.

However, for wholesale markets this is potentially the year that they have a renaissance. Both New Covent Garden and Birmingham Wholesale Market seem to have finally agreed upon the best direction for redevelopment.

Mark Tate, chair of Birmingham Wholesale Fresh Produce Association (BWFPA), says the market is confident the city council will approve the option the tenants submitted, which involves staying in their current Pershore Street location but working with a development partner to maximise the potential of the site.

“At this moment we cannot go into the finer details of the proposal,” explains Tate. “However, everyone appears to be very impressed and enthusiastic about it. It’s been a matter of keeping everybody on board and keeping the negotiations going in the right direction.”

A decision on which option to approve, either the tenant-submitted one or a move to a new location at The Hub in Witton, is expected to take place at the end of this month.

Tate says that one of the positive things to have come out of this process is that Birmingham Wholesale Market is being recognised as a valuable asset to the city, not only in terms of economics but also as an important part of the local food network.

This week New Covent Garden Market finally signed the development deal that will see the regeneration of the 57-acre site at Nine Elms. As part of the deal new 550,000 sq ft modern facilities will be built to house the existing 200 businesses.

The development will give the market a more public face, with the potential for a new food quarter in London helping to promote the market’s role as a provider of fresh produce. Helen Evans, NCGM director of business development and support, says while at the moment there are no specific plans for the year, the market is consistently supporting the increased consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables.

Back at Spitalfields, Hutchinson is keen to point out the incredibly important part wholesale markets play in supporting independent produce businesses, from greengrocers to street markets.

“There are certain items here where the price has gone up due to the shortage, such as potatoes,” says Hutchinson. “But then there are other items that are not so expensive. Eating fresh produce does not have to cost if you know what to look for and that’s where a good street market can help. The food there is in season, and it might not look perfect but it’s still good quality.

“We have children come here who think this food comes from a factory. There’s an opportunity to help educate people about eating fresh food. We should be saying to people that it’s at least 5 A DAY.”

Hutchinson’s comments come during a week when the government has stepped up its healthy eating message with the launch of a new primetime television advert for its Change4Life campaign, which aims to encourage people to eat well and exercise.

The government has partnered with the major supermarkets to highlight in-store deals on fresh produce through the Change4Life website, but Hutchinson says hopefully the public will become more aware of what markets have to offer.

Assistant manager at Spitalfields-based Thorogood & Sons, which supplies independent greengrocers and stores, Eliot Moore, says that the debate on fresh produce should not be about cost, but about quality. “Our customers know they are getting quality from this market, and therefore they are passing that to their customers, who are getting the best fruit and vegetables,” he says.

Moore adds that while some items may cost a little more, like vine tomatoes, consumers don’t need to buy a huge amount because they taste so good. This, he says, is the kind of food advice a greengrocer can give to the public.

Given the history and relationships that the UK’s wholesale markets have generated in the nation’s food networks, it is only right that they should be included in the debate on creating a healthy population. Hopefully, 2013 is the year that their importance is widely recognised. —

NEW CHAIR

Pam Alexander was this week named as the new chair at Covent Garden Market Authority, replacing Brenda Dean. Alexander has more than 35 years of experience working closely with boards and governments on strategic policy and delivering regeneration projects.