Farmers' market is an airbase hit

A RANGE of fare, including everything from fresh seafood to organic meats and produce, were on display at RAF Marham's first-ever farmer's market on Friday.

A RANGE of fare, including everything from fresh seafood to organic meats and produce, were on display at RAF Marham's first-ever farmer's market on Friday.

Shoppers from surrounding villages, as well as families who live and work on the base, found crayfish tails, cheese, poacher's pasties, home-made pickles and fresh-squeezed apple juice to sample.

Rita Bloomfield, community development officer at Marham, said: “It's going very well, we've got the best part of 20 stalls here.

“There was quite a rush of people to start with, and there's been a steady stream of people coming from everywhere, not just the base which is what we were hoping.”

Community liaison staff at the base organised the event with promoter Derrick Tooke after a survey of service families showed they wanted access to fresh, local produce.

Dereham-based Mr Tooke, who runs a stall selling seafood and smoked fish, along with farmer's markets at Snettisham and Sandringham, said: “I was up at Snettisham when the community liaison officer from here asked me to help them get a market set up.

“It's an ideal place, there are 3500 RAF personnel here, plus all the civilians who work on the base.”

Traders hope the market will be held on the third Friday of every month.

Lincolnshire-based dairy producer Steve Grinstead, whose flavoured cheeses included hot and spicy, mango and garlic, travels around the country selling his wares at shows and markets.

“We go all over, we go to Scotland and Wales,” he said. “But Norfolk's one of the top counties - they love their food.”