Gilmorton Chandler C of E Primary School are holding a 'Food for Life Open Day' on Saturday 2nd October 2010 from 2 to 4pm. Andrew Shields, Assistant Headteacher says:
Gilmorton Chandler C of E Primary School has become a Food for Life Flagship Primary School (www.foodforlife.org.uk ), the only one in the County. As part of their remit for this prestigious award they are required to “spread the word” with the local community and share what they do at school; share the idea of buying locally produced organic and free range food, of improving the food we eat, building upon our knowledge of where food comes from, learning how to grow your own food, etc.
The purpose of the open day (which we are linking into our overall Harvest festival of activities), is for the public and children/parents to meet local food producers, buy locally produced food, learn about food for life, look around the school’s growing areas, attend small work shops on organic gardening and allotments etc.
We would like to invite you to have a stall, where you will be able to advertise and sell your produce. There will be a nominal charge of £5 for your stall and all proceeds will go towards the children’s growing activities, enhancing their education.
If you are interested in having a stall please could you telephone Rebecca Scott who is our Chair of FOGS (Friends of Gilmorton School) on 01455 209713.
It looks like a great opportunity for producers to showcase their products to the next generation of consumers and their parents.
I got a message today via the comments form that may interest some of you food producers:
Hello!!!
We are Fabrika, Leicester's community interest arts centre. We are volunteer ran and not-for-profit!
On the first Saturday of each month we hold a craft fair in our gallery. Starting from September we would like to welcome producers of local and organic food stuffs to join us in the upstairs gallery space. Local musicians also attend the event providing entertainment, so we can guarantee you a lovely day!
Stalls are £10 when booked paid for in advance, £15 on the day, although space is limited so get in early and save money and disappointment!!!
Call Esta on 07919 153152 for more details.

What: British Sausage Week 2010
When: Monday 1st to Sunday 7th November 2010
Where: Nationwide
Who: Organised by the British Sausage Appreciation Society
The most hotly anticipated food event of the year, British Sausage Week 2010, launches on Monday 1st November.
To celebrate British Sausage Week, independent butchers and supermarkets alike will be running events and special offers and look out for special sausage themed menus in local pubs and restaurants. For those looking to experiment with sausages at home, the British Sausage Appreciation Society will be launching their new and exclusive recipe booklet for 2010.
Visit www.Britishsausageweek.com for recipes and further information about the week.
Belgrave Hall Good Food Fair will take place on Saturday and Sunday the 18/19th September 2010 at Belgrave Hall, Leicester from 11.00am to 4.00pm. Admission: Adults £1.00 / Children free. Free parking is available at Jelsons, Loughborough Road (opposite Lidl) a two minute walk from the museum.
James Hickford, Arts & Museums Marketing Officer at Leicester City Councils says:
Discover fantastic locally grown produce and organic foods in the beautiful gardens of Belgrave Hall Museum on Saturday 18th & Sunday 19th September.
Over this late summer weekend the normally tranquil museum gardens will be transformed into a bustling market place, showcasing the best of local growers and food producers.
The ever-popular Belgrave Hall Good Food Fair heralds the start of the Leicester andLeicestershire Food Fortnight. 2010 marks the fifth year of this successful Food Fair that attracted over 2,700 visitors last year.
Treat yourself to scrumptious home made cakes, ice creams made from real milk, delicious hand made chocolates, spicy samosas and pots of jam made from local fruit. For chilli lovers there’s a wide choice of Indian foods and Charnwood Chilli, our local growers and suppliers of chilli plants, seeds, homemade sauces, chutneys and pickles.
Also a chance to find out how our ancestors preserved fresh food and try some tasty potted treats with The Victorian Cook talking about ‘Pots, reserves and Pies’.

Food Fair organiser and Museum Gardens Officer Valerie Hartley said “In 2005 we had half a dozen local food producers for a Sunday afternoon fair; this has grown in popularity each year with both producers and visitors, people return year after year.”
“It’s a very friendly event, you get the opportunity to talk to the people growing, making and baking this food, to find out exactly what goes into it and where the ingredients are sourced. We all know how important it is to cut down on food miles and this is the ideal opportunity to buy food that hasn’t travelled far, and may just have been picked that morning and to support our local hard working businesses at the same time.”
This year sees the return of many of our regular favourites such as Picks Organic Farm Shop with their tempting hot homemade Dexter burgers, Old Spot sausage cobs and vege breakfast rolls; Lilliput Preserves who offer a huge choice of chutneys, jams, curds, marmalades, relishes and pickles and the intriguing Witch’s Garden offering culinary and medicinal herb plants and herb products.
New for this year include Livesey Brothers who produce a selection of exotic mushrooms at their farm near Ashby de la Zouch. Previously many Exotic Mushrooms were only available through imports from across the world making them expensive and generally of poor quality. However, these are now grown at Lowerfields Farm by Tim and Simon Livesey reducing the food miles and improving the quality. "As we introduce another species to our range it's another one less that has to be imported," said Tim Livesey.
Find out more about food production with Leicestershire Food Links, Transition Leicester, RSPB, the Sowing New Seeds project from Garden Organic and on Sunday check out Corner Plot’s honeybee hive. Visit our website for more details of stallholders attending over the weekend.
For further details see the Belgrave Hall Food Fair Website.
- Ashby de la Zouch
- Farmers' Market — Third Saturday each month
- Open from 9am to 2.00pm at Manor House School.
- Blaby
- Farmers' Market — Fourth Saturday each month
- Open from 9am to 1.30pm on Blaby Social Centre, Leicester Road, Blaby. Local Producers selling fresh, quality, local produce. Free tastings and demonstrations.
- Country Market – Blaby Social Centre, Leicester Road, Blaby, Leicester
- Fridays 10.15am – 11.15am & Fourth Saturday of the month 9.00 am – 1.00 pm , Closed from Christmas to end January.
- Burbage
- Farmers' Market — 1st Saturday each month
- Open from 9am to about 1.30pm on Windsor St., Burbage. A great opportunity for people who work to buy direct. Approximately 25 farmers offering a wide variety of produce.
- Castle Donington
- Farmers' Market — Second Saturday each month
- From 9.00am to 12.30pm at St Edward's School, Castle Donington
- Glenfield
- Country Market – St Peter's Church Centre, Glenfield
- Fridays 10.00am – 11.15am, Closed from Christmas to end January and mid-July to mid-August.
- Hinckley
- Farmers' Market — 3rd Thursday each month
- Open from 9am to 2.30pm. A well established market with support from the local Council. Go to hinckleyandbosworthonline.org.uk for full details of Stalls etc.
- Country Market – St Mary's Church, Hinckley
- Fridays 10.15am – 12.30pm, Closed January & Good Friday. Also at the Farmers' Market.
- Kibworh Beauchamp
- Farmers' Market — Second Saturday each month
- In the Car Park at Kibworth High School Smeeton Road
- Leicester
- Farmers' Market — First Thursday each month
- Open from 10.00am to 4.00pm on Humberstone Gate, Leicester. Go to www.leicestershirefoodlinks.org.uk for full details of Stalls, Dates etc.
- Loughborough
- Farmers' Market — Second Wednesday each month (except Nov)
- Open from 9am to about 3.00pm in the Devonshire Square area.
- Country Market
- Takes place at the Farmers' Market (Birstall Group).
- Lutterworth
- Farmers' Market — 2nd Saturday each month
- Lutterworth Square between 9.00am and 1.30pm.
- Market Bosworth
- Farmers' Market — Fourth Sunday each month
- Open from 9am to about 2.30pm in the Market Square.
- Market Harborough
- Farmers' Market — First Thursday each month (except Jan)
- Takes place in The Square.
- Country Market – The Market Hall, Northampton Road, Market Harborough
- Tuesdays 9.00am – 3.30pm, Closed for 2 weeks after Christmas; Easter Tuesday.
- Melton Mowbray
- Farmers' Market — Every Tuesday and Friday
- Open from 8am to 1.30pm at Melton Mowbray Market, Scalford Road. See www.meltonmowbraymarket.co.uk for full details.
- Country Market – Gloucester House, Scalford Road, Melton Mowbray
- Tuesdays 9.15am – 11.30pm, Closed from Christmas to March.
- Oakham
- Farmers' Market — Third Saturday each month
- Gaol Street, Oakham
- Country Market – Congregational Church Hall, High Street, Oakham
- Fridays 9.00am – 11.00pm, Closed January and Good Friday.
- Syston
- Country Market — Syston Methodist Hall, High Street, Syston
- Fridays 10.00am – 11.00pm, Closed January & Good Friday.
- Uppingham
- Farmers' Market — Second Friday of each month
- At Mercers Yard, Uppingham, Rutland, LE15 9PZ. From 8am to 1pm.
For contact information for Leicestershire Farmers' Markets please visit www.leicestershirefoodlinks.org.uk
For further information about Country Markets go to www.country-markets.co.uk
Leicestershire Food Links are opening a new Farmers' Market on Saturday 8th May 2010 between 9.00am and 1.30pm at the Kibworth Beauchamp High School car park on Smeeton Road.
For further details see: www.leicestershirefoodlinks.org.uk
Scott and Donna at Church Farm breed and rear Gloucester Old Spot pork which they turn into a variety of products. They also keep free range chickens, Ducks and Geese.
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This event has been cancelled.
This year's County show will be held at Melton Mowbray Airfield on Sunday and Monday, 2nd and 3rd May 2010.
The Leicestershire County Show website says:
Showcasing the Best of the County
The focus point off the food hall will showcase the very best in produce from around the County. The region food and drink producers truly represent the ethos of Leicester Agricultural Society.
Working closely with Leicestershire Food Links this core area is a delight and customers can sample and take home of the finest gastronomic delights.
Tickets will be available to book online via the show website: www.leicestershireshow.co.uk
Leicester's Summer Food and Drink Festival 2010 will take place at Leicester Market on Sunday, 30th May 2010.
There will also be a Winter Festival on Sunday 21st Nov 2010.
Organised by Leicestershire Food Links the Melton Mowbray Country Fair will take place on Sunday 27th June 2010.
It is hoped to include local entertainers, rural craft-workers and demonstrations, handmade crafts, local food producers and local businesses, along with veteran and vintage vehicles.