Revitalising Cheshire’s rural economy
Farmers markets - home grown food sold directly by the producer
Buy locally to help the local economy
Farmers’ Co-operatives - Helping smaller producers to work together to boost trade
 A fresh look at food production - Helping to create local food plans and to benefit more people - such as through community orchards
Promoting the Cheshire brand
Exploring new markets for Cheshire produce
 Helping traders help themselves - Providing marketing training with local farming and food producing communities to help them exploit new potential for trade
The food chain - linking into tourism - Helping to promote Cheshire’s fine foods and produce through local B&Bs, hotels and restaurants.
Long live the village shop! - Working with the Countryside Agency to enable rural shopkeepers - and Post Offices - at the hub of communities to compete through grant aid.
Mounted by the Council with the support of 21 associated agencies representing a broad interest group, a special Task Force is spearheading a carefully devised Action Plan to co-ordinate, guide, assist and deliver a process of rural recovery.
The challenge ahead lies in creating the way to best manage change.
This means supporting the short-term needs of the many people directly affected by the consequences of the outbreak of the latest epidemic.
more shoppers are voting with their feet to choose local organic seasonal produce
 It also calls for clear objectives to devise a focused process of rural development in the medium to long term for Cheshire’s most precious commodity - its people.
This in turn will regenerate the economy, local communities, the environment and the county’s distinctive landscape.
Predominantly a dairy farming county, with some arable and horticulture in the north and beef and sheep farming on the hills east of Macclesfield, Cheshire’s total agricultural area covers 156,000 hectares. Grassland comprises 65 per cent of the agricultural area, compared with 38 per cent in England as a whole. Cereals account for the biggest crop (nearly a quarter of all production) and potato growing is also significant.
 In tune with the mood towards healthier eating, scores of entrepreneurial food lovers with Cheshire roots are branching out into specialist produce - much of it organic.
From this, consumers are starting to reconnect with the producer. And the long term aim? To localise the economy - to bring about positive effect upon health, reduce waste and boost customer satisfaction through increased efficiency.
The long-standing Cheshire tradition of wholesome food and healthy eating has never been a secret - but the message is spreading.
In all, the goal is to achieve a sustainable, competitive and diverse farming and food sector, as recommended by the Government commissioned Curry Report which has made over 100 recommendations for shaping change in the farming and food sector following widespread consultation.
Chaired by former Meat and Livestock Commission Chairman Sir Donald Curry,the report calls for a £500m investment to back the change in direction.
 It also supports ‘reconnecting’ moves between farmers with their market and the rest of the food chain; the food chain and a healthy and attractive countryside and consumers with what they eat and where it has come from.
Back-to-nature food producers claim cheap food costs the environment dear. And if purchasing trends are anything to go by, more shoppers are voting with their feet to choose local, organic, seasonal produce.
Cheshire Cheese, still an all-time favourite, now competes with meat, poultry and game, culinary herbs, honey and hand-made chocolates for a slice of this growing niche market. But Cheshire wine? Wild boar, ostrich, charcuterie?
No problem! However exotic or esoteric the delicacy, producers are keeping pace with demand - thanks to partnership support with the County Council.
 Along the byways, farm shops offer wholesome, basic products. And regular Farmers’ Markets do brisk trade in ‘back to nature’ homegrown produce. The Soil Association - the body responsible for granted ‘organic’ status to soil quality - is a stalwart supporter of the ‘can do’ approach of Farmers’ Markets for which demand is growing.
Local people like to support local producers - and like the reassurance of knowing where the food they are eating has come from. Farmers Markets also score because they cut out exploitation through ‘middlemen’, reduce costs through fewer ‘food miles’ in transportation and packaging and provide small-scale producers with an immediate and regular outlet for their produce.
For further information about Cheshire’s fine food - including Farmers’ Markets staged at different venues throughout the county, access http://www.visitcheshire.com/. For listings of around 80 Cheshire farmers and food producers, copies of a slimline Cheshire Produce Directory are also available. (Phone: 01244 603373)
Farmers’ Markets take place regularly at six Cheshire venues: Knutsford (first Saturday of the month) Congleton (alternating Tuesdays) and in Macclesfield (third Friday), Kelsall (third Saturday) Nantwich (last Saturday) and Ellesmere Port on the fourth Saturday in the month.
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