THE DAYS of women’s institute jams and cakes being sold at Lutterworth markets are no more, due to their decision to stop trading.
Harborough
The women, including members of the WI, have regretfully marked the end of an era and will no longer sell their homemade produce.
For 35 years the Lutterworth WI market sold home-made bread, cakes, marmalades, jams, free-range eggs, seasonal home grown garden produce and handicraft products, most recently at the monthly farmers’ market.
Pauline Flint said: “We cannot manage to erect the stall any longer. We are all over 75 and just aren’t able to do it.
“The farmers’ market itself is dying off, there is rarely anyone around to help us. It’s very sad because people do like home made goods.”
Geraldine Robinson of the Towns Estate Committee, a charity run on a voluntary basis, said: “The stall is still available for the group to use free of charge as has always been the case, if they wish to do so.
“Nothing has changed as far as we’re concerned. Unfortunately we can’t be there to help erect the stall because we all have to go to work. We have done all we can to help the group.”
Their withdrawal comes as a blow to the farmers’ market, which usually has only two or three stalls.
Town councillor and farmer Richard Dewes said: “With the increased pressures of modern farming, farmers have less time to attend the market these days.”
The farmers’ market will still be running every third Friday of the month.
16 January 2014
