Celebrating Yorkshire Day at Newgate Market

I visited Newgate Market in York today to sample some Yorkshire produce and celebrate Yorkshire Day with some of the market’s stall holders and customers.  I was accompanied on my tour of the market by Councillor Sonja Crisp, City of York Council’s Cabinet Member for Leisure, Culture and Tourism and Darren Lovatt, the Council’s Senior Markets Officer.

 

Newgate Market has been in its current location since 1955.  It was previously based in St Samson’s Square and in Parliament Street but the stalls in St Sampson’s Square were transferred to Newgate in 1955 and from Parliament Street in 1964.  There has been an open air market in York dating back to the time of Roman Emperor Vespasian in AD 71.

 

Today, the market boasts over eighty stalls containing well stocked fruit and vegetables and top quality foodstuffs from all over Yorkshire.  These include tomatoes from South Cave and Selby, potatoes, cabbages and onions from Heslington and cucumbers and leaks from Brough.  There is also a stall selling bread made in Haxby and another with chocolate from York.  Other items are available from further afield, making Newgate Market a bustling shopping destination.

 

Visiting the market is a great way to shop and support Yorkshire producers at the same time.  Local farmers have to compete with the big supermarkets who can sometimes dictate unrealistic prices.  Supporting local traders benefits the community because they reinvest in their businesses and employ local people.

 

Local markets also have high quality fresh produce which has only travelled a short distance which is better for the environment.  Most of the fruit and vegetables on sale at the market are local.  Buying from Yorkshire farms is a great way to celebrate Yorkshire Day.