Oxford SlowFoodStudent

The East Oxford Farmers’ and Community Market

Every Saturday 12.00-3.00pm

At the Asian Cultural Centre, Manzil Way, just off Cowley Road

www.eastoxfordmarket.org.uk

email: eastoxfordmarket@gmail.com

This is a really lovely, friendly and small indoor market. It sells a massive range of veg, fruit, bread, eggs and some meat, as well as wooden crafts and other, ethnicy crafty things. What I liked most about this market was the fact that there’s no question as to the ‘localness’ or ‘organicness’ of the food for sale (actually, the bread isn’t organic, but it’s homemade using local ingredients the night before the market), and there is just one stall for each type of food, which I thought was great because, really, why would you need more than one? I spoke to some of the stall-holders, and they seemed so knowledgeable, interested and enthusiastic about their produce, you really felt you could find out all about where your food had come from. It felt so nice to be outside the usual bubble of students or harassed Sainsbury’s shoppers, and amongst people with the same thoughts and values on food, taking a leisurely Saturday morning outing to stock up for the week. There’s also a ‘café’, the food looked lovely, and was, of course, hand-made by the woman running the stall.

The main downside to the market is it’s distance from the city centre (it’s not actually that far- just past Tesco on Cowley road- definitely not an issue if you live in Cowley. I live in Jericho however…), and particularly that, with just shopping for myself, it seemed a long way to go for just the few things that I would eat before the rest rotted! The market would be perfect if you could just quickly drop in, or went on a mission with a big list for a houseful of people; or just had a Saturday morning to kill I spose. On the same note, there was a long wait for the fruit and veg so it would be no good if you were in a rush, (although apparently this varies a lot from week to week, and early on, until about 1.00pm, it’s not nearly so bad). They do have a ticket system though which works very well and fairly. I really enjoyed the standing waiting; it gave me time to just have a good look at the food and soak up the atmosphere, which was very peaceful. But as I say, no chance for a lightening-quick visit.

I visited the market mid-January; this is a list of most of the fruit and veg available, and prices (per kilo unless it says otherwise). I thought the prices were pretty good…

· Apples: £2.20

· Artichoke: £1.60

· Beetroot: £1.40

· Cabbage: £1.60

· Carrots: £1.00

· Chard: £3.50

· Kale: £3.50

· Leek: £2.60

· Lettuce, each: 70p

· Mushrooms: £5.00

· Onion: £1.10

· Oranges: £2.00

· Parsnip: £1.90

· Pears: £1.60

· Potato: £1.20

· Pumpkin: £1.20

· Red onion: £1.60

· Salad leaf, per 100g: £1.20

· Spinach: £3.50