After a dedicated 23 years of serving the people of Newport and Ryde on a weekly basis, the Island Farmers’ Market has ceased trading – but has made 1 last charitable donation.
The Island Farmers’ Market was set up to see if local producers could produce products local people wanted to buy, with their busy weekly markets enabling local producers to build brands that are now well known on the Island.
Several of the Farmers’ Market members have now opened successful farm shops, which continue to sell a wide range of local produce.
However, last Thursday (6th October), the market made their last ever donation of £3,015 to the Rural Careers Fund. This came after the conclusion of the Market towards the end of September.
Mary Case, Farmers’ Market Chairman, has said:
“The Farmers Markets have achieved what they set out to achieve and the farm shops are the natural progression from the markets. The Island Farmers Markets committee considered the RIWAS Rural Careers Fund to be the most appropriate recipient for our residual funds, helping Island youngsters to progress their careers in the rural sector
The RIWAS Rural Careers Fund offers financial support to people aged under 25 (and exceptionally, older). The scheme is intended to add value to the Isle of Wight’s farming and land-based industries by offering financial support to help young people gain relevant qualifications or skills.
Scholarships of up to £3,000 each are awarded annually. Applications are currently open and will close on 31st July 2023. Bursary applications are considered throughout the year with awards typically of £200 each. The Agricultural Society is keen to receive applications.
Further information and an application form can be found on the RIWAS website at www.riwas.org.uk.
That’s what happens when you sell off farmland and build on it. No food anymore. They might sell the food in there own shops, but at over inflated prices. The rich get richer as always.
couldn’t agree more the farmers and landowners sell there land for building or tie land into set aside schemes for huge payments and then complain there’s no future for there children in farming and blame cheap imports . some of the farm shops on the island are very over priced and although the packaging may say Isle of Wight , sadly the product some times is not very mis leading
Yes, like Isle of Wight Garlic, from Spain.
But they were packed up and gone before workers had a chance to visit .. so won’t be missed by the workforce