Farmers' market news with Gerb Gerbrands.

One of the things we do at the market is offer a free stall to local charity and community groups every week, with a limit of two stalls per year to each individual charity.

Over the years we have been proud to host two stalls in the run up to Christmas for the Beresford Group who provide the funding for Stroud’s two Women’s Refuges, plus a variety of outreach services including one to one support, group workshops for vulnerable people and group workshops for professionals.

You will find the Beresford Group stall at the market this week (and at the end of November) and they will be selling all manner of things Christmassy.

We hope you will offer your support to this wonderful charity this Saturday.

Elsewhere Bow in the Cloud Vineyard return for their monthly stall having just completed the harvest of this year’s grapes and VQ Country Wines and Eccentric Gin will also be back. So along with Days Cottage and Seb’s cider stalls and Corinium Ales I think we have alcohol covered!

On the vegetable stalls there is an amazing selection of squash available at the moment with classics such as butternut, pumpkin, acorn, spaghetti and turban squash mixed with some truly amazing looking ornamental ones. Squash are a great autumn dish because the fact they are so good roasted in the oven means the traditional oven cooking season is kick started just when it should be helping to warm up the kitchen!