A food festival is to be launched next year by the winner of The Birmingham Post Market Masters competition.

Stratford-upon-Avon farmers' market in Warwickshire is today named the winner of the competition, which followed an extensive search of more than 20 markets. The runnerup is Teme Valley farmers' market in Worcestershire.

Sponsored by the National Farmers' Union and Defra's Rural Development Service, the competition was launched in September to recognise the evolution of farmers' markets across the region.

The award will be presented by Farming Minister Lord Bach at the market on March 4. Judges reached a unanimous verdict after visiting a shortlist of six markets during the competition, including last year's winner Moseley.

The winner will receive £500, a banner to publicise the market and a trophy. Teme Valley will receive £100 and a certificate marking its efforts. The markets were picked from a shortlist, which included Ludlow, Stourbridge, Moseley, and Birmingham.

Stratford-upon-Avon's market is run by Warwickshire Farmers Market Ltd, which looks after nine different markets throughout the county, including two new markets introduced last year at Coventry and Alcester.

Judges were impressed by the quality and variety of produce on sale as well as the strict criteria imposed on stallholders, ensuring they grow and produce their own food.
Its efforts to work with schoolchildren and the community to encourage healthy eating were also praised.

Vegetable producer and market chairman Mike Wilkes is passionate about the market's strict rules, designed to ensure only local producers growing or rearing their own goods are allowed a stall. This means those who add value to produce, such as mixing locally grown herbs with olives from Greece, are banned.

"We don't have people selling olives or coffee here. We want people to sell things that are from this country," he said. "We want people to compete with one another on a level playing field, so they have not just got competition but fair competition."

With up to 35 stalls, shoppers can enjoy a wide selection of meats, cheese, bread and vegetables. Among the producers is Ben Bird, from Gorsehill Abbey Farm in Broadway, Worcestershire, which sells organic cheeses. You can buy brie, soft herb cheese, and a tangy white cheese similar to feta. Other delights at the market in Rother Street include water buffalo burgers, locally brewed ale, smoked salmon and trout, and speciality breads, soup and honey.

By Sarah Probert, Feb 15 2006