Stoke Newington Farmers' Market, Stoke Newington, London

Always busy (during term time at least) and with stalls frequently completely pillaged by the end of trading this farmers' market is definitely popular. The crowd are a mix of many of the denizens of sunny Stokey with plenty of students and deep greenies along side the converse all-star clad yummy mummies and daddies (who are drawn to the place by the fact that it is in a school playground and so has a climbing frame to occupy Xander and Titania while they shop and talk house prices with friends). The atmosphere is one of the friendliest I have encountered at a market with lots of people clearly using it as a place to bump into people and stop and chat.

The stalls supply some of the finest fresh produce you'll find for sale anywhere in London and at prices which, while high compared to popping down Ridley Road, are good compared to buying similar quality organic stuff in shops. There's between 3 and 6 fresh produce stalls depending on the season (including pick'n'mix salad from Wild Country), 2 meat suppliers (Stock's Farm have the choice and quality is excellent but for my money the much smaller Muck & Magic rare breed stuff is well worth a look), plus several other stalls doing cakes, fresh pasta and various takeaway food options and a decent cup of coffee if the sluggish queue isn't too big.

Still, to my knowledge, the only completely organic farmer's market anywhere, run by the always-pioneering Growing Communities organisation who also run a not-for-profit organic box scheme that includes produce grown by them in Hackney.

I spend a lot of time visiting Stokey these days, and what a lovely surprise it was to notice a new addition to the buzzing hubbub of Church Street (namely the farmer’s market). It’s in its embryonic stages so it’s much smaller than say, the Broadway, but as a lover for farmers markets of all shapes and sizes it’s a great start.

Placed in the playground of the William Patten school, it takes place on a Saturday morning from 10am till 2pm. Don’t try and sneak in early and steal a march on the best produce at 9:50am (as I attempted to) as they have vigilant door guards that root out that kind of behaviour.

Unlike many of the other markets, the unique selling proposition of this joint is that it’s ALL organic, which is quite unusual, as most farmers’ markets sell themselves on providing locally grown produce, with a bit of organic stuff. It must have come as an unwelcome surprise to the whole foods market opposite, but where would the world be without a bit of healthy competition?

As for locally grown, you can’t get more local than stalls whose produce all comes from within 100 miles of Hackney. Unless of course you can be bothered to maintain an allotment. I can’t, you see; so this place works for me.

This is very handy for me and I usually drop in on a Saturday (please note: the timings listed above are incorrect – it is only open on Saturdays until 2pm).

I just wish there were more stalls and it was more competitively priced. I’m a fan of food markets and I’ve noticed that some stalls sell the same food produce here at higher prices than they do at other markets (eg Spitalfields market)! I’m so disgusted at this sharp practice that I now boycott those stalls on principle.

Otherwise, the cake stall has some very nice cup cakes and iced cakes – I recommend the lemon drizzle cake and coffee cake (packs a powerful caffeine punch). But I’m currently trying to give them a wide berth for the sake of my waistline!

One thing I can’t resist though are the Caribbean fishcakes, which are cooked in front of you. These have become a staple treat on Saturdays for me and go well with the chilli sauce provided.

Love the idea, but I just can’t get into this place. Been a few times and left purchasless and frustrated every time. Everything seems overpriced and way over trendified. I line up for something like a burger or a coffe and a few times I just stand there while the coffe man just counts money in front of me. Seriously this has happened two or three times.
Anyway I like the ethos and everything, but just feel a bit let down by the reality. I think they think people don’t mind waiting because they are all hippies and so cool, and chilled and so happy just to be seen in such a hip place.
Nah - aint for me.

The Stoke Newington Farmers Market is magic, and although sometimes the queues seem to last forever and the yummy mummies do grate somewhat if you haven’t got a little Jemima of your own i’m still going to give it a five-star rating because it’s a) completely righteous, and b) sells an absolutely brilliant selection of ONLY organic and biodynamic foodstuffs from meats and fish to mushrooms , cheeses, funny-shaped pumpkins…all of the food is seasonal and from not too far away too, so it’s a market that refuses to pollute (unlike, say for instance - fresh and wild across the road, busy importing out of season apples from new zealand). There’s a great stall that sells nothing but interesting salad leaves and fresh herbs, and several that do food that you can eat here and now - bacon and egg butties, fair trade coffee, and freshly prepared fried cep baguettes. Yum.

I discovered this market one Saturday randomly on the way to work. A local community project the market sells local organic produce made and sold by local organic Farmers. A wonderful idea that only could be found in the heart of Stokey! The food is superb especially the meat and veg perfect for making a Sunday Roast. ALthough a little on the expensive side, it is expected after all the cost of maintaining such a project and its standards is not cheap. If you feel like doing a positive thing for your local community or splashing out for a special occasion then i definately recommend here!

The first farmers' market in the UK to sell organic, biodynamic and wild food only. The growers travel to the market to sell their own produce ensuring knowledgeable sellers and good advice on how to prepare the food bought. There is a good range of food in a fairly small market with both ready made food, fair-trade coffee, lots of seasonal veg, fish and meats. A relaxed atmosphere though the queues can get quite long.