Return of Perth Farmers’ Market is so welcome
I was delighted to see the return of Perth Farmers Market, which took place for the second month running at the weekend at its new home on the South Inch.
Due to COVID-19, the market was moved from its usual site in King Edward Street last month for the first time in its history.
It had become a muchanticipated monthly event which attracted large crowds, including many people who travelled to Perth to buy food, drink and goods at the market.
I know the organisers of the Perth Farmers Market were anxious about moving their site away from the city centre last month, but these fears were allayed when the local community turned out in numbers, along with attracting new visitors who were intrigued by the brightly-coloured canopies situated on the South Inch.
Having the market located beside the adjacent car park at the South Inch definitely helps to draw residents to the event.
In July, I campaigned to ensure farmers’markets could resume following the very tight restrictions that had been put in place during the pandemic.
Perth Farmers’Markets currently supports around 50 high-quality small food and drink producers and provides a major economic boost for the city.
With Perth’s historic and strong association with farming, it’s vital that the Farmers’Market continues, especially at times like we are experiencing now when many food and drink producers will have struggled during lockdown.
It was always a pleasure looking forward to Perth Farmers Market, so it must be a relief to both its organisers and local residents to see it up and running again, albeit in a different location.
Food production and employment is vital to the economy in Perth and Kinross and across Scotland.
Without organisations like Perth Farmers’Market, small producers would find it extremely difficult to sell directly to the public.