Another new year and the New Covent Garden’s wholesalers find themselves facing yet another period of uncertainty.

The interesting ruling by the Court of Appeal to overturn Lord Whitty’s original decision to allow face-to-face trading in meat and fish products means the saga is now entering its third year, with no apparent end in sight.

Many in the industry were expecting the court to finally put an end to the long-running debate and rule in the favour of the Covent Garden Market Authority and Defra, but the decision to favour the Corporation of London sent ripples throughout the wholesale sector.

On the face of it, the decision, which has allowed a rather stunned corporation to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, is baffling.

Quite how the Court of Appeal reached the decision to overturn two previous judicial rulings is incredible in itself, particularly when you consider a previous judge’s ruling which described elements of the corporation’s claim as “unarguable” and “hopeless”.

The CGMA has announced it is considering continuing the fight by appealing to the House of Lords and that is certainly understandable, but the cost implications could be high and in some respects the question the market should now be considering is simple - is it time to accept its fate and get on with the day-to-day business of running the market?

After all, the market has managed to survive for hundreds of years on fresh produce alone.