Gwent Country Markets Ltd has a reserve of funds which it would like to make available to any group of producers wishing to open a new Country Market.
Country Markets have been held across England, Wales and the Channel Islands for one hundred years. All items sold through Country Markets must be homemade, home grown or hand crafted at the home of the producer. A Country Market provides an opportunity for home producers to sell their surplus or to run their own small business from home.
Items on sale will vary from Market to Market but usually include baked goods, preserves, eggs, garden-grown fruit and vegetables, plants and handmade crafts. While home produced meat, fish and dairy products are available at some Markets.
Country Markets have been held in many venues in Gwent over the years but now only a thriving Market remains in Usk, held in the Functions Room at Usk Conservative Club on Thursday mornings between 10am and 12 noon from mid-March to Christmas.
All producers become members of this co-operative social enterprise called Country Markets, which is organised into local Co-operative Societies registered under the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014. Membership is open to anyone over the age of 16 and the cost of joining is just 5p.
Markets are run by a committee of its producers and affiliation to the national organisation keeps producers up to date with legislation, while giving public liability insurance to its members. Everything is sold co-operatively; producers receive payment at the end of every month for their sales, minus a small commission to cover running costs and insurance.
If there is any group of producers out there who would like to find out more, please contact Ann Bowyer at uskcountrymarket@btinternet.com.
