What the judges said;

"Farmers' markets are lively and personal, and none more so that the Stroud farmers' market where organisers Clare and Kardien Gerbrands use a dizzying mix of innovation, marketing, publicity and retail skills to weave a unique community experience.

The farmers' market takes place over the winding streets of Stroud every Saturday from 9am to 2pm. At its core is the Cornhill market place, where the market started in July 1999. Steady growth in the number of stalls meant that the farmers' market has spilled out into surrounding streets making surprises at each turn for the first-time visitor. On average there are 45 stalls attending every week.

The story here is about growth, optimism and working with the community.

For being at the leading edge of everything about farmers' market, energy and commitment, Stroud is the national winner of the FARMA Certified Farmers' Market of the Year 2008".

Official Tours

Due to demand, we are only able to host guided tours of Stroud Farmers Market to farmers' market organisations certified by FARMA as genuine farmers markets. Please have your certification number to hand when booking so we can verify with FARMA that your markets are certified.

Although we do not ask for payment, tours must be organised in advance, call us on 01453 758060. We also ask that each group makes a donation to our official charity - A Chance for Rosie. Click here for more information about the charity.

Consultancy

We offer a comprehensive consultancy service for all stallholders and market managers and can offer a range of workshops and presentations covering customer care, branding & marketing, working with the media, quality control, working with schools & the community. We specialise in tailoring our work to your needs.

Clare Gerbrands is a qualified "Welcome Farmer" trainer and experienced speaker. She has shared a platform with Michael Meacher MP, Dame Fiona Reynolds DBE, Director-General of the National Trust, Suzie Smith, Editor of Country Living Magazine and Nina Plank of New York Farmers' Markets amongst others.

Clare is a regular contributor at the FARMA Annual Conference and her presentations have been met with great enthusiasm from participants.

To book us and for details, call us at the office on 01453 758060.

Film Location

The Cornhill market place is an ideal location for filming on farmers' market day in Stroud. We have already welcomed film crews from BBC Blue Peter, BBC Rick Stein's Food Heroes, BBC Points West "Eat the West", ITV West's "Secrets of the Cotswolds" and BBC Countryfile with John Craven among our many appearances on television.

Filming should be organised in advance, call us on 01453 758060. We may be able to arrange free car parking close to the market place, and will provide free tea and coffee for your crew. Instead of a location fee, we ask that each production company or crew filming at the market makes a donation to our official charity - A Chance for Rosie. Click here for more information about the charity.

Jasper Conran and Isabella Blow launch Stroud farmers' market on 3rd July 1999. Isabella is wearing an Alexander Mc Queen dress and a Philip Treacy hat.

Shoppers at Stroud enjoy the fresh local produce.