A new era in the way Scots buy fresh food is in the pipeline with a proposed expansion of farmers’ markets to every town in Scotland.

Ten years have passed since the first official farmers’ market began in Perth, and since then more than 50 have been established across the country.

With their healthy, seasonal and often local food and with the atmosphere of an old-fashioned marketplace, they have proved popular with shoppers, who can buy directly from producers.

Now farmers’ markets have received Government money for the first time, with the Scottish Farmers’ Markets Partnership being given £200,000 to develop markets on a national scale over the next three years. The money could allow every town in Scotland to have a farmers’ market at least once a week, and even make it a daily occurrence.

Early plans also include establishing more permanent, dedicated city centre sites, and ensuring that a greater variety of produce will be on sale from an expanded number of farmers.

Part of the funding will pay for the newly created post of farmers’ markets national development officer, as well as a part-time support co-ordinator.

Richard Lochhead, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, said: “The popularity of farmers’ markets has exploded recently, empowering farmers and giving them direct access to their customers. They have the potential to become the focal point for Scottish produce, and ensuring we maximise what they have to offer is a priority for the Scottish Government.”

Sally Crystal, chair of the Scottish Association of Farmers’ Markets, said the injection of Government money signalled a significant shift in the movement from amateur to professional.

“We have been run on a voluntary basis for the past 10 years, but now there are in excess of 50 markets and we are too big and important to continue like that,” she said.

“This new funding puts us on a completely different footing. Now that we are to be run by paid personnel, this raises us to a professional level and gives us the opportunity to offer consumers a really good alternative to supermarkets.”

The definition of a Scottish farmers’ market is one in which farmers, growers and producers sell their produce direct to the public. Everything for sale should have been grown, reared, caught, brewed, pickled, baked, smoked, or made/prepared by the producer.

Cosla, the umbrella body for Scotland’s 32 local authorities, is to be invited to have a presence on the industry steering group that will advise the partnership, in an effort to persuade local authorities to earmark permanent covered market sites, and even indoor markets, as well as helping to promote their markets more aggressively.

If Cosla becomes involved, it will join the National Farmers’ Union Scotland, the Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society, Scottish Food Quality Certification, the Scottish Agricultural College, Scottish Enterprise, the Food Standards Agency and the Crofting Federation, all of which are working on ways to develop farmers’ markets. The steering committee is due to convene in March 2010.

“We want to get the local authorities behind us because we believe that farmers’ markets encourage people into town centres, which actively helps existing retailers. In Europe, market day is also the busiest retail day,” said Ms Crystal, who is chair of the steering group.

Increasing the number of weekend farmers’ markets will be one of the challenges. Only three of Scotland’s 50 markets take place during the week, in Hawick, Milngavie and Kirkintilloch. The majority are on Saturdays or Sundays.

Ms Crystal wants to see all weekend markets retained, with additional markets at the same spots during the week -- with the ultimate aim of having daily markets in most places.

“Not everybody wants to shop on a weekend, and not everybody wants to buy a month’s worth of food at once at their market, where the emphasis is on local, seasonal, and above all fresh food,” she said.

Once the number of producers grows, it is hoped the choice of produce on offer will become more varied than at present.

In terms of turnover, farmers’ markets have done surprisingly well in the recession. Ms Crystal said: “We’ve seen only a 1% failure rate, which is better than some shops. We see no reason why farmers’ markets are not here to stay.”

Food for thought: a farmers’ market in every Scots town?