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SLIDESHOW: Visit Bedford farmers' market
Exclusive Times & Citizen video
Summer is here again, and of all the sights, sounds and smells of Bedford town centre for the next few months, few of them are more welcome than Bedford farmers' market.
Our videographer Natalee Hazelwood visited the stalls in Harpur Square to see what shoppers can expect to find.
And the stall holders explained why they love coming to town to reporter Ben Raza.
Jill Peters, organiser of the market, said: "We have a core of about eight stalls but it is quite seasonal. At different times of the year we have different stalls, and people want different things. This is the timer of year when people have started to wake up really.
"It is quite a 'green' idea because it is all local produce. And unlike shopping at the supermarkets, they can cut exactly how much you want, and it is all fresh produce so you can freeze whatever you buy."
Blanche Walker is behind the Franklins stall, selling a range of meats from the Thorncote-based family business.
She said: "We sell some things you do not see in many places, like pigeon and pork sausages, goose and duck sausages, and goose eggs.
"All the sausages are handmade on the farm, the poultry are all reared and slaughtered there, and the game is local.
"And we have some of the sausages already cooked and sliced on the stall, so people can try before they buy."
Vickie Humber runs the Humbers Homemade stall, selling jams, chutneys and preserves made by herself in Flitwick.
And adding to the environmentally friendly ethos of the market, customers get 20 pence off if they bring back the jars and lids from their last purchase.
She said: "Because of the face to face contact we get to have with people we can fill needs that no one else can.
"I had one chap come to the stall and ask if we had any melon and ginger jam, as he hadn't had any since he was a child and no one sold it any more.
"So when I went home I was able to make some up and have it for him next time we came to Bedford. I don't have any today though - it is all sold out."
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Weather for Bedford
Sunday 05 February 2012
Today
Light sleet
Temperature: -1 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: -3 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: North
