VegSoc Award for Barnard Castle farmers' market 2008

Barnard Castle farmers' market has become the first in the UK to receive a prestigious award from the Vegetarian Society.

The monthly market has been named the best for veggies, beating off competition from farmers' markets across the country.

Rachel Markham, on behalf of the Vegetarian Society, presented the award at the December market and said "The judges were very impressed by the Barnard Castle market. Everything was so fresh, and the variety was brilliant - we were really struck by the local provenance of the produce and the extensive knowledge of the stall-holders."

Apple Day 2007

HRH The Countess of Wessex meets stallholders at a special market held in her honour at The Bowes Museum on the occassion of her visit to the museum and Teesdale on Wednesday 30th May 2007.

At the OneNorthEast "North East England Tourism Awards 2006" held on the 10th October 2006 at the Newcastle Civic Centre, the Barnard Castle Farmers' Market won the Gold Award in the category "Taste of North East England". The market now goes through to the national competition, the results of which will be announced at an awards ceremony being held in London in spring 2007.

In awarding the Barnard Castle Farmers' Market the Gold Award, the judges recognised the quality & diversity of the local produce on offer at the market, the knowledge & customer care of the stallholders and the contribution which the market makes to the area's tourism offer and local economy.

With most stallholders having put an apple twist to their products, stalls decorated with an apple theme & competitions for children, one of the busiest markets of the year took place when the Teesdale Farmers' Market held its Apple Day market on 7th October in celebration of English Apples.

2005

Christmas Festival & Farmers' Market
Sunday 18th December 2005

The Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle, was again the venue for the Christmas Festival with a host of local food producers,   numerous craft stalls and seasonal entertainment.

Apple Week
24th September to 1st October 2005
Following on from last year's very successful Apple Day at Barnard Castle Farmers' Market, there was an equally successful Apple Week this year incorporating very well attended Apple Days at Barnard Castle and Stanhope Farmers' Markets.
The Stanhope Farmers Market Apple Day featured a best dressed stall competition, apple products from the stalls and Dales Centre cafe, apple games and entertainment organised by the Durham Dales Centre.
The Barnard Castle Farmers Market/St Mary's Church Autumn Fayre Apple Day featured apple products from Farmers' Market and Church stalls, cookery demonstrations with apples by Peter Bell; apple games, Ploughman's lunches, Farmers Market & Church Hall stalls, growing advice from Lowfield Nurseries, Church tower tours, best dressed stall competition, painting competition with Montalbo School, tombola, raffle.

Award Winning Local Producers
Several of the local producers who attended the Eggleston Show have recently won prestigious awards in the 2005 Great Taste Awards organised by the Guild of Fine Food Retailers.
Loopy Lisa Fudge: Gold awards for Vanilla & Treacle fudges.
Broom Mill Farm: Gold Award for their Toulouse Sausage and Bronze Awards for Beef Sausage & Cooked Ham.
Alison's Country Pantry: Silver Awards for Oat Crunchies & Anzacs; Bronze Awards for Ginger Biscuits & Gingerbread.
Weardale Soup Company: Silver Awards for two soup varieties

2nd Wear Valley Festival
- held at Auckland Castle on Easter Saturday 26 April 05
The poor weather did not deter thousands of visitors from attending the 2nd Wear Valley Food & Craft Festival and making the day even more successful than last year.