A love of good food, good ingredients and his home county is what enticed Ben Dent into the world of farmers’ markets.

He set up Penshurst Farmers’ Market in 2005, partly to ensure the best quality ingredients for his own cooking. However, his involvement grew when he got together with Bob Taylor and Peter Begley to form the Kent Farmers’ Market Association in 2008.

“I do all the shopping and cooking in my household, and setting up a farmers’ market was the best way of ensuring I could find the quality ingredients I need!” he said.

The association has many benefits for both stallholders and Kent shoppers.

“It’s a way of helping entrepreneurial and talented farmers and small businesses, and contributing to the community,” said Ben, 46.

“The stallholders are great – it’s not just because I admire their talent, I also thrive on how enthusiastic they are. Even in January, when the weather can be miserable, they are always so cheerful.”

Stalls sell everything from fruit and vegetables, game and free-range meat, freshly baked bread, cheese, fresh and smoked fish, cakes, desserts and fruit juices to pickles, jams, wines and beers. But many markets are seeing people selling more distinctive products, carving out a niche.

Fresh fish is also particularly popular because it’s hard to find locally.

Being able to trust what you are buying, and who you are buying from, has also helped boost the movement.

“Food scandals like horsemeat have exposed the murkier side of the industry,” Ben said.

“Farmers’ markets offer a solution where transparency and traceability are evident because shoppers buy direct from the producers of their food. They can find out where their food comes from, ask questions about it and know that stallholders’ success depends on repeat custom, so integrity is critical.”

For those shoppers put off by the idea that the markets are a bit exclusive, and pricey, he has this to say: “The clearest evidence that the image is changing is that the number of markets and stallholders grew markedly during the recession, when shoppers were even more price-conscious, and we wouldn’t have achieved that growth if our prices weren’t competitive.

“Stallholders are well aware that their livelihood depends on retaining loyal customers and this requires them to deliver great value week in, week out.”

He added: “Word of mouth is the most trustworthy advertising. So shoppers who encourage their friends to try the market are a big help and they can tweet or post on Facebook the day before the market.”

This weekend's Kent markets

On Saturday, March 12 there will be markets at Bridge, Headcorn, Hythe, Offham, Tunbridge Wells and Whitstable.

On Sunday, March 13 head to grab Tonbridge, Lenham, Thanet and Bishops Park to get your taste of Kent

Our celebrity champion

Kent-born Michel Roux Jr is a lover of farmers’ markets and is patron of the county association. Last year he mingled with shoppers and stallholders at Shipbourne farmers’ market.

He said: “I really want to encourage everyone in Kent to visit a farmers’ market.

“As the Garden of England, Kent has been renowned for centuries for the fantastic quality of its fruit and vegetables and it now boasts a huge array of wonderful, skilled cooks who are hand-making delicious products with great care."

A home-grown success story

The Kent Farmers’ Market Association was launched in 2008 to support managers and stallholders and foster new markets and producers.

Since then the number of markets has grown from 28 to 44 – with four more in the pipeline – and the number of stallholders attending markets from 250 to more than 600. The association runs with volunteers and has no public funding.

Some of the markets had been around in the county from about 2000, but they were little known: today they are more popular than ever and are held weekly, fortnightly or monthly.
For details go to www.kfma.org.uk