Award-winning organic cheeses are joining the line-up at Stoke Newington’s Farmers’ Market.
The new stall, run by the Organic Cheesemakers Network, launches this weekend (13th April) at the Growing Communities Market at St Paul’s Church.
And the menu of cheeses is something to behold; Gert Lush, Renegade Monk, Rebel Nun and Brighton Blue. They’re all being sold direct from UK farms by farmers and makers based in Somerset, Oxfordshire, Sussex and more.
Kerry Rankine, coordinator of the all-organic Growing Communities, said. “Not only are these farmers producing outstanding artisan cheeses, but they are supporting biodiversity and a healthy soil. Organic farms have up to 50% more wildlife than conventional farms and can sequester more carbon.”
The cheeses on sale will include Sussex Blossom, a Sussex sheep’s cheese from High Weald Dairy, which won Silver in the World Cheese Awards in 2023, and Bix from Nettlebed, which won the Best Soft White Cheese at the British Cheese Awards in 2022.
Organic dairy farmer Penny Nagle of Feltham’s Farm, is among those featured. She said: “For great cheese the quality of the milk is essential. Organic certification, if you’re an organic dairy farmer, is just that extra layer of environmental auditing, animal welfare and security you can pass onto the customer.”
The Growing Communities Farmers’ Market celebrates its 21st birthday this spring. It’s the UK’s only fully organic food market. Shop here for fish that’s been caught the same day, organic fruit and veg, milk, honey from Hackney hives and pesticide-free flowers.
The market, which is open from 10am till 2.30pm on Saturdays, supports 20 small-scale, climate-friendly farmers and producers (mainly within 70 miles of London) and its farmer-focused approach means the all the money goes to the farmers.
As well as offering a low food-mile way to shop, the market champions the refill movement – customers can bring along their own egg cartons as well as containers to refill milk, honey and kombucha.