TV appearance for Ludlow farmers' market

The Ludlow Local Produce Market will make an appearance on BBC1’s Farmers Country Showdown, as crews took to the popular market for a new edition of the show.

Traders were interviewed about producing their own food and drink, and what that meant for them as a business.

The BBC series celebrates inspirational farming families and the rural events where they showcase their hard work, as they try to win the top prizes.

The film crew spent many days filming in and around Ludlow having chatted to stallholders that produce their own food and drink. One was Hare Hill Farm, a relatively new grower of local vegetables based in the Shropshire Hills, and Fletchers which make multiple award-winning cider.

Both are regular traders at the farmers ' market, which trades all year round on the second and fourth Thursday of the month.

Tish Dockerty, market manager for the farmers' market, said it was great to have the crew there.

"The production company were very keen to speak to stallholders that are truly ‘field to fork’, therefore they grow their own and sell it all, or add value by making it into something like cider," she said.

"I believe they have filmed all around the country highlighting this increasingly important aspect of food and drink production.

"Our market has always operated on farmers' market rules i.e. the stallholder makes, rears or grows what they sell, usually within 30 miles of the market. This distinguishes the market from others, as the product is truly local, originating and utilising local ingredients, local supply chains and local people.

"The food we sell has the lowest carbon footprint possible, thus making it as close to sustainable production as possible."

This episode will be broadcast on Wednesday, January 13.

Local to Ludlow is a community interest company that promotes food and drink from within 30 miles of Ludlow with the aim of reducing the environmental cost of food production and to support the local food economy.

For more information regarding the Local Produce Market visit localtoludlow.org.uk