To market

Alexandra Palace market



Alexandra Palace Park
Muswell Hill (bottom)
N10 3TG
Every Sunday 10am - 3pm
www.weareccfm.com  

Winner of the Time Out Best Local Market Award 2008, Alexandra Palace market is a leafy refuge above the city: birdsong can be heard from the trees and a wide range of produce is found weekly on the 30-50 stalls that line the stretch of path leading into the magnificent Alexandra Park.

The aroma of fresh Fairtrade coffee wafts through the air as a steady flow of visitors stroll through, many with children and dogs in tow. The traffic-free market is safe for families, and its location in the park means it’s a popular choice for a day out. Families and food enthusiasts come from nearby areas to shop, browse, chat and enjoy the scenery, and there’s parking for those from further afield.

Alexandra Palace Market

The market was started eight years ago by City and Country Farmers’ Markets, a small company founded in 2001 with the objective of encouraging the public to shop locally. Chris Elder, the company’s founder, says it has achieved this goal: “The market is very popular and visitors span a wide demographic range, with people of all ages, from 18-80.”

The stall holders are friendly and passionate about their produce, happily stopping to advise customers on the best way to grow organic mushrooms, or talk about their sustainable dairy farm that produces tasty raw milk. There’s a good mix of local meat, cheese, bread, artisan goods, organic ice cream, and an abundance of organic fruit and veg. After the gentle hustle and bustle of the market, you can mosey up through the park with your organic goodies and find the perfect picnic spot, with breathtaking views over the city. What better way to spend a Sunday?

Featured stallholder - The Honest Carrot

The Honest Carrot lives up to its name. Business owner Fiona Rezende produces a range of tasty and healthy vegetarian and vegan goods, of which the main ingredient is organic and biodynamically-grown carrots. Perry Court Farm, which also trades at the market, supplies the carrots, and all other ingredients used are organic, natural and local. This includes the flour and spices used to make the breads, pies, falafel and scrumptious carrot burgers. The popularity of Fiona’s recipes is evident as her company, established in November 2010, has expanded enough for her to be able to throw in the 9-5 and devote her days to cooking.

www.thehonestcarrot.com

By Lorna McDowell