It’s nine months now since London Farmers’ Markets transformed a sleepy corner of E11 into a buzzing Sunday hub. We love the stroll over Wanstead Flats to mooch around its many stalls, from Ted’s Veg to the quirky Dusty Knuckle van, surely the capital’s best bakery, while local artisan café Patch is on hand for caffeine duties.
But this southernmost tip of E11, an olive’s hurl from Forest Gate, is not as convenient for some of us living on the other side of the neighbourhood – the huge swathes of Leyton and Walthamstow north or west of Francis Road and Leyton Midland Overground, for example.
That’s where Walthamstow Farmers’ Market comes in, a geographically nearer proposition to much of E10 – not to mention E17, of course. The market, which started back in 2007 (making it as long-running as its sister markets in Parliament Hill, Marylebone and Queen’s Park), is celebrating its 15th birthday this year – and is stronger than ever, filling the top of the high street by the town square every Sunday with the freshest farm produce.
In case you’ve forgotten, it’s – joy! – asparagus and strawberry season now. And if you’ve never popped down, regular weekly contenders include the Culinary Herb Company, Picks Organics meat and poultry, unpasteurised dairy from Hook and Son, biodynamic fruit, vegetables and eggs from Brambletye Fruit Farm, vegan cakes from Global Fusion, fresh pasta from heritage grains at Seriously Italian, organic bread from Astons Bakehouse, seasonal salads and vegetables at Wild Country Organics, and Ted’s Veg.
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But even if you’re a long-term regular, it’s worth a revisit this Sunday as the whole market is being rebooted to mark its birthday with a raft of freshly picked stalls. Don’t forget, as always, to bring your own bags, containers and reusable coffee cups to save using new plastic.
Those new E17 stalls in full
Charlie’s Trout are dedicated to producing the very finest and freshest smoked trout. Their fish are bred and hand-reared at the hatchery high in Wiltshire’s Chalke Valley, then moved to the farm on the banks of the Avon, where clear water from the chalk aquifers of the Salisbury plain flows freely through the ponds. The fish are smoked over Wiltshire green oak before being hand-sliced. More info here.
Taza sustainably cultivate fresh micro-greens and salad leaves year-round in urban spaces using hydroponic systems. Recognised for their work on social and environmental impact, Taza were awarded the United Nations Hult prize in 2020. From micro-broccoli to pea and popcorn shoots and freshly pressed wheatgrass, find out more on this healthy and delish project here.
Owley Farm Mushrooms is a family-run food producing business based on the Kent/Sussex border. They produce gourmet mushrooms in converted stable buildings on a third generation farm using locally-sourced straw. The business is run by Harvey Piper and his partner Tilly, both committed to providing customers with fresh and delicious mushrooms that you won’t find in the supermarket. More here.
Ceylon Kothu brings traditional and super-tasty Sri Lankan and South Indian street food dishes to Walthamstow Farmers’ Market, including chef Ramesh Kanakaraj’s take on classic spicy vegetable dish Kothu Parotta, all made using local produce.
Karaway Bakery cakes are a family-run, award-winning bakery specialising in recipes from the Baltics, handed down from generation to generation. They only use natural, high-quality ingredients and traditional methods. More here.
Finest Fayre. Purveyors of of the finest British produce, tuck into the best pies, sausage rolls and Scotch eggs using free range ingredients from local sources. More here.
Nana Nairne Preserves. For many years Nana has been making homemade organic jams and chutneys as special gifts for family and friends using produce from her fruit and veg patch. Her family are now sharing these unique preserves. They’re made in small batches using minimal amounts of raw organic cane sugar, organically certified produce, and special home-grown ingredients. More here.
Millets Farm will be back with new season asparagus and strawberries (see below), plus their range of freshly pressed juice and seasonal fruit and vegetables. More here.
Quickes Traditional are returning with their range of award-winning handmade cheddar and butter from their farm in the South West of England. More here.
From June. The Ferm. Rebecca is a South Korean chef, fermentation expert and food systems researcher, working with councils and community organisations on resilience against food insecurity. She uses parts of veg that would otherwise be wasted or thrown away, and uses local farms, travelling by cargo bike from Hackney. More here.
Follow @londonfarmers for more. Opening times: Every Sunday 10am-2pm, Town Square by Selbourne Walk Shopping Centre, off the High Street, Walthamstow E17 7JN. Nearest cash point: Natwest on the town square. Card payments: Some stallholders accept card payments. Please note that not all stalls attend weekly. Right in the heart of the town centre near all the shops and cafes. The market is held on a public site and well behaved dogs are welcome.
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