Page 24 - Market Times April 2024

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FEATURE • ALLY PALLY
John Brown is a fourth-generation fruit farmer from Kent who has been selling his apple juice on City and Country farmers markets since the operator started in 2002
Netsant Tekeste helps on Khieron James stall called Rainforest Creations serving raw vegan food
some great street food or browse the various arty, crafty lines.
“I used to be the hands-on manager before I took over operations and it was an absolute joy to help traders set up on a sunny market day,” Lawrence said.
“First you get the dog walkers and the runners, and then locals and families come out to visit the market,” he added.
The traders range from individuals who started a business or a hobby in Covid and are trying it out on the Sunday market, to farmers and foodies who rely on Ally Pally as a lifeline for their businesses.
Fourth generation fruit farmer John Brown and his wife Wendy have been selling the apple juice they produce on their Kent farm
on Ally Pally market since around 2006. “We knew Chris Elder and we have been
on his markets almost from the start,” John said. After three bad harvests, the couple turned to producing apple juice in 2000, and they love the friendliness of the North London market.
“It’s such a nice mix of traders and produce and there is a good community feel,” John said.
Wendy said their friend Chris hadn’t been afraid to try out new locations for farmers’ markets.
“Not every one worked, but he has given them a go,” she added.
Lauris Petersons is another farmer who travels from near Canterbury in Kent to
sell the root vegetables his father grows on their organic farm.
“Our dad does the growing and my brother and I help with the selling,” he said.
As well as locally grown produce, the market features traders with specialities that cannot be grown in the UK, such as the trader who marinates his olives himself.
Francesco Mignogna sells specialities including olive oil produced on the family farm in Calabria in Southern Italy.
He has been selling his products as a hobby for eight-and-a-half years alongside other lines of work, but he recently decided to make it a full-time business.
Lauris Petersons runs a popular stall selling organic veg grown on the family farm in Kent
Francesco Mignogna has recently taken the plunge and now works full-time for Marcanti di Calabria, selling products from the family farm in southern Italy