In this month's edition, of Kent Life, Benjamin Dent, Chairman of the Kent Farmer's Market Association (KFMA) has written a great article about Summer Picnics using Kent produce from Farmer's Markets.

" With nearly 40 Farmers' Markets in Kent there's a market near you to help you pick up all your fresh and seasonal picnic goodies, from Kentish cheeses, meats and smoked salmon to pickles and chutneys, bakery and sweet treats."

A picnic at Sissinghurst Farmer's Market

Benjamin, who also runs Penshurst, spoke to me recently, about what was nice to take on a picnic at this time of year. Well, I got terribly excited and rambled on about our pate, especially our chilli and chocolate flavoured chicken liver pate, and our beetroot and horseradish scotch eggs, which are proving very popular at all our summer events.

One of our favourite farmer's markets for the summer months is at Sissinghurst. What a beautiful place to have a picnic! The Market is located near the ancient Elizabethan Barn, next to the Granary restaurant within the famous Sissinghurst National Trust site. During June, July and August the market is open on the 2nd and 4th Monday every month. You can borrow a blanket from the information center, choose your items from the farmer's market then sit back and relax. Donald Keen, a volunteer who runs the market has done a wonderful job of the market. There is a wide selection of vendors including Cliff and Julie Dyball of The Traditional Cheese Dairy and Anna and Edna (mother and daughter) from Sugar and Spice with their jams and chutneys.

Where to find a Kent farmer's market near you

We encourage anyone who wants to find out more about Kent Farmer's Markets to head to the KFMA website to find the latest events and markets. Another site worth checking out is the fine people at Produced in Kent who are an organisation dedicated to promoting local food, drink, products and services in Kent.

For a list of the farmer's market we are attending please check out our farmer's market calendar.

With so many farmer's markets in and around Kent there is no excuse not to pick up some scrummy food and head off into the countryside.

Nicci Gurr 

P.s.  On a final point the ITV show Countrywise was filming in early July for a show dedicated to the producers and countryside of Kent, It will be aired on 29th August. More on this in a later story?