Stroud Farmer's Market news with Gerb Gerbrands.

I was rather chuffed to find a litre of Jess’s Ladies milk in a Co-op near Oxford last week and on chatting with them on Saturday I found out they are supplying about 500 litres a week to our Co-op region.

The Co-op have been having another push over the last few months to increase their local food suppliers and, unfortunately, this has led to the farmers’ market losing one of our long term regulars; The Cotswold Pudding Company.

Having to supply to the demands of 40 regional shops is almost more than the small team can manage and therefore they have stopped doing markets.

We will miss them but wish them well for this exciting new opportunity.

Also dropping out for a while is Lishkins Preserves, which will give Maryanne the opportunity to bring her preserves as well as her scones!

Salt Bakehouse are back this week after a mini disaster meant they were limited to supplying their wholesale and a bit for the shop; we had our Wednesday market baker The Billowing Loaf (at the Wednesday market every week!) standing in last week. Recent new stall The Welsh Cake lady (sold out at her first market two weeks ago) also returns as does monthly plant stall Tortworth Plants, David’s Chilli Oils, Bath Soft Cheese and new vegan hot food stall Seitan’s Grill.

For the thirsty we have the highly acclaimed Hillside Brewery and Artisan Ales of Minchinhampton plus the healthy and nourishing Happy Gut Hut Kombucha stall.