22.11.06
Huge growth potential for the Cornish farmers' market sector - Free seminar on farm retail and getting it right!

Consumer demand continues to surge for local products from farmers markets, farm shops, box schemes or direct from producers, as shoppers switch from the supermarket chains to the farmers' market scene for quality local produce. Experts predict a possible threefold growth from £200 million a year to £600 million in the next few years.

Taste of the West in Cornwall is urging anyone involved in this exciting growth sector in Cornwall to take advantage of this emerging trend and attend their free seminar 'farm retail – getting it right' on Thursday 30th November 2006 at Carruan Farm Centre, Polzeath, North Cornwall from 9.30 am – 2.00 pm.

The aim is to give producers selling direct to consumers, organisers of farmers markets and farm shop retailers in Cornwall, the chance to hear about sector developments and see a range of invaluable presentations on meeting customer expectation, telling a local story, retail display and product pricing.

Organised by Taste of the West in Cornwall and part financed by Defra and Objective One for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, the presentation will feature a lively line up of experts eager to share many years of practical experience and market knowledge, enabling producers, organisers and retailers to get the best out of their enterprises.

Angie Coombs, Taste of the West in Cornwall said: "The USA is often a barometer of emerging market trends and at a recent conference on the local food market in a global marketplace, we heard about the extraordinary growth and development of the farmers' market sector in California. It is very probable we shall see a similar pattern emerging in Cornwall, with huge growth potential in this sector. Our Farm Retail event is a must for anyone already operating in this sector or thinking of entering. We have a tremendous line up of speakers and the event will be enormously stimulating from start to finish."

Angie Coombs, Taste of the West in Cornwall manager, will be talking about the farm retail scene and emerging global, national and local trends; market analyst Ruth Huxley will provide valuable feedback on farmers markets in Cornwall and how to meet shopper expectations; Nigel Boocock of Cornish food distributors Plough to Plate will talk practically about pricing products for the retail and wholesale market; Sarah Meyall, a specialist farm shop and retail advisor, and passionate about local foods, will be providing hands on demonstrations on how to get the best out of an enterprise through presentation, packaging, display and telling the right story.

Farm Retail – Getting It Right takes place on Thursday 30th November 9.30 am – 2 pm at Carruan Farm Centre, Polzeath, North Cornwall. The seminar is free. To book a place telephone 01579 349 363 or email james@cornwalltasteofthewest.co.uk or visit www.cornwalltasteofthewest.co.uk.

For further information please contact Jilly Greed or Samantha Mudge at One Voice Media on 01392 278801 or email media@onevoicemedia.co.uk.

The Objective One Programme for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly has invested Cornwall Taste of the West through the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF).

Editor's notes:

Taste of the West in Cornwall is a £5million Objective One gateway project, funded by the European Agricultural Guarantee and Guidance Fund (EAGGF), the Department for Food, Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra) and private matched funding. It is part of the Taste of the West regional food group. Taste of the West in Cornwall's project includes a trade development programme, a marketing grant scheme and a capital grants scheme, available to small and medium sized food businesses which produce, sell or process foods in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. For more information log on to www.cornwalltasteofthewest.co.uk.

The National Farmers' Retail & Markets Association FARMA survey about Local Direct Sales in 2004 showed that 90 per cent of households were keen to buy direct from the producer. Around 30 per cent were taking the opportunity to do so at farmers' markets and a further 30 per cent buying from farm shops. In June 2005 Gareth Jones, FARMA's manager said that he believed that the farmers' market scene could grow threefold from its turnover of around £200 million a year to some £600 million a year. If people switched to buying locally produced foods they would save £2.1 billion a year in environmental and congestion costs incurred in transporting food around the UK from farm to supermarket. www.farma.org.uk.

Clare Morgan
Media Relations Manager
Objective One Partnership Office
Castle House
Pydar Street
Truro TR1 2UD
Mobile: 07973 813647
Telephone: 01872 223439

cmorgan@cornwall.gov.uk

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