Shropshire’s thriving indoor and outdoor markets have taken a central role in an innovative food trail highlighting the good food grown, made, sold and served across the county.
The Shropshire Good Food Trail has over 100 venues growing, making, selling or serving the county’s finest and most sustainably produced food. This year’s theme is Shropshire’s Abundance.
It got underway on July 20 and for the next six weeks will include mouth-watering offers to put Shropshire’s top quality food producers firmly on the map including those based in the county’s markets.
The Shropshire Good Food Partnership has organised the 2024 trail and map after the success of last year’s launch event. It has been supported by Visit Telford and the Shropshire Hills National Landscape programme.
This year it includes the markets of 15 Shropshire towns featuring monthly farmers’ markets, artisan markets, weekly outdoor and indoor markets and even a regular flea market in Bishop’s Castle.
Shrewsbury Market Hall has fully embraced the spirit of Good Food by introducing its own food trail around the Market Hall which was voted Britain’s favourite market in 2024, 2023 and 2018.
The trail gives a tour of the food highlights of the market hall celebrating its many vendors and their products.
Special promotions for people following the official Shropshire Good Food Trail are available at most of the market’s real food retailers as well as at its Moreish cafe, Petitglou wine bar and cafe and Gindifferent. To qualify visitors are asked to show their print or digital copy of the official Shropshire Good Food Trail tour guide map.
Daphne Du Cros of the Shropshire Good Food Partnership explained that the food trail was a not-for-profit initiative to help increase awareness and support of the local food economy. It forms part of the partnership’s drive to create a local food system that is good for people, place and planet.
She said that markets were a vital part of the county’s food economy and gave an extra boost to the smaller scale local producers.
One of the oldest markets – dating back to 1205 – is organised by Wem Town Council which runs a weekly outdoor market every Thursday morning. On the same morning each week an indoor market is also run by Wem Town Hall Trust.
A Wem farmers’ market is held on the second Saturday of each month and there are large Spring and Harvest Markets run each year.
Clerk to Wem Town Council, Mrs Penny O’Hagan said markets created a sense of heritage and community in a town and acted as a shop window for specialist local food producers.
“Markets are at the root of rejuvenation for towns – local people support their local markets and they bring a sense of life to the high street,” she said.
She added that Wem’s weekly outdoor market had spaces available – with the use of some free gazebos – which would be particularly attractive to young people setting up their own businesses. If anyone would be interested in having a market stall please email info@wem.gov.uk for more information.
As well as details on the markets, the Shropshire Good Food Trail map also includes discounts and offers from many of the 100-plus host venues. Maps are available at various tourism outlets, such as Shrewsbury Market Hall, Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre, through Visit Telford as well as through the trail venues.
The map and a directory of all the grower, makers, sellers and servers involved can also be downloaded from the Shropshire Good Food Trail website at www.shropshiregoodfoodtrail.org
Further information on the Good Food Trail is available by visiting the website or by emailing hello@shropshiregoodfood.org
Or you can get involved by following the Shropshire Good Food Trail on Facebook or Instagram (@shropshiregoodfood) or by visiting one or more of the venues to taste Shropshire’s abundance.
Wem’s outdoor market, every Thursday in Jubilee Square.
