Weighing up the cost

[Cresseda]

Farmers' markets have blossomed in the past few years as consumers made a return to more local produce, it's fresher and has known origins. Will our FM's take a battering as the cash flow tightens?

Our farmer's market in East Grinstead is reasonable, the veg is good quality and the price is right, meat is great quality, a good price as well and it's reassuring to know where it's come from. The bread however is something else - the price is huge and the loaves small, how are they going to survive in this climate?

Some items are just out pricing themselves, designated as 'specialist produce', these are what I call 'eat me as an extra' namely chutneys, pickles, various oils and a whole range of breads - and how the olive guy makes ends meet I don't know. Nice produce, tasty and great for parties, but not essentials. They used to be used in times past to liven up the taste of food, covering up the taste of stale bread and pasties etc, simply preserved fruit and vegetables in vinegar with spice, great. Now they're luxury veg in exotic spices used as accompaniments to a variety of foods.

It's going to be interesting to see if these 'specialist producers' will stay, and if they don't then will that reduce the number of farmers' markets in the high streets? Or are we now unwilling to reduce our standards having bought into the idea that we are what we eat?