30 March 2007

Renowned Oxfordshire food writer Sophie Grigson will make sure that Witney Farmers’ market really does ‘cut the mustard’ when she joins forces with the Mayor of Witney, Cllr Chrissie Curry to launch the new market on Wednesday 18 April.

Sophie, from Stonesfield, will be at the Farmers’ Market from 10am in Market Place to meet producers and try out a brand new and tasty product celebrating 1000 years of Oxfordshire. The Shaken Oak Oxford Mustard, using classic Oxford seasoning, will be launched at Witney Farmers’ Market by mustard maker Bruce Young from Hailey.

Witney Farmers’ Market is moving from Church Green to Market Place and will be on the third Wednesday each month. “This means we will have more producers to give Witney customers a wide choice of local foods,” says market organiser, Peter Williams.

Among the 26 producers expected at the April market will be Windrush Goats Cheese, Wychwood Forest Venison, Lees Rest Farm eggs from Charlbury, Halcyon Honey from Charlbury and Callows Farm Produce from Stonesfield.

Bruce Young from Shaken Oak Farm, Hailey explains why he has created a new product: “Oxford Mustard is made with sage and coriander, two of the main ingredients in the classic Oxford seasoning used in the 18^th century for Oxford sausages. We wanted to create a new product to celebrate 1000 years of Oxfordshire, and encourage the use of locally made produce.”

Sophie Grigson will be signing copies of her latest book Vegetables, and tasting some too. Suzi Crafer of Tasty Morsels will be cooking up produce from the market and using one of Sophie’s recipes to demonstrate the versatility of vegetables.

To help make the day even more special a jazz trio and Abingdon’s Town Crier Tony Legge will join in the fun.

Further information:

Ceinwen Lally, TVFMC: 0870 241 4762

Peter Williams, Witney Farmers’ Market Organiser: 01865 820159