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Be warned, this is a picture heavy post...
Since we moved back to the area last year, we hadn't found time to make it to Winchester's infamous Farmers market, so we made sure we were around for the special twentieth anniversary market last Sunday.
Blessed as we are with a three year old with a ridiculously early inbuilt alarm clock, we were in Josie's just as the doors opened at 8.30 for a breakfast of two halves (a sinfully unhealthy but amazingly good stuffed croissant, and a slightly more healthy asparagus and poached eggs on toast!) before wandering down to the market.
Early starts are always good when it comes to food markets, especially if you have something specific in mind. You have more chance of finding it before the crowds arrive, and if you are intent on taking photographs whilst perusing, there are less people to get in the way!
After wandering stalls piled high with asparagus, the best tomatoes we have eaten outside of Italy (if you haven't tried The Tomato Stall's Isle of Wight Tomatoes, you have to look out for them! You can also find them in a couple of supermarkets!), seafood, eggs, locally grown flowers and plants, and all manner of breads and pies, we came away with bags stuffed with rhubarb, asparagus, oysters, bread, cheese and a couple of delicious Isle of Wight giant beef tomatoes.
We also left (just as it was getting busy!) with a renewed happiness that we chose to move back to an area where such a market exists, especially when it's packed with local stall holders who are really passionate about what they produce.
We even met the Queen (thank you for answering all of our bee keeping questions Mrs B's Bees!)!...
Just in case you don't know, Hampshire Farmer's Markets run on the second and last Sunday's of each month in Winchester...