Bustling Dufftown farmers markets 'breathe life' into village
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A VOLUNTEER-RUN farmers market will take place in Dufftown next weekend as part of wider efforts to regenerate the village.
The monthly local market was launched by Dufftown & Mortlach Development Trust Ltd (DMDT) in late summer to provide local makers and producers with a home-based platform to sell their food and wares to a wider audience, and for the community to be able to buy fresh produce on their doorstep.
All funds raised through stall hires are ploughed back into the trust's projects to improve the village for locals and visitors.
The trust offers up a free stall to a different charity each month so that they too can raise funds, most of which have seen fundraising opportunities severely hit by the pandemic.
Market manager Eleanor Candy, DMDT chair, said: "One of our key aims was to start up farmers markets again and bring back people to the village as part of its regeneration.
"There are lots of farmers surrounding the area, and this gives them a ways and means to sell their produce locally. It also means locals don't have to go somewhere else to find fresh produce and it breathes a bit of life into the town.
"Since launching in summer we've reached out to hundreds of people and we now have a great selection of stalls, with crafts indoors and fresh produce outdoors. The turnout has been good.
"One real positive we've noticed is that there are a few companies started up by local entrepreneurs, like Lettoch Farm Coffee Company, Netherton Farm, Conval Coffee Roasters to name but a few, who are building up their business from this.
"It's fantastic to see the community really want to support and buy local and it's great for these small producers to be selling their goods and know that they are so appreciated."
At the upcoming market Speyside Youth will take up the free stall place. In previous months the Mortlach Memorial Hall, Dufftown in Bloom, Dufftown Speirins, Aberlour Care Home and Mortlach Parish Church have been able to boost their coffers this way. In addition, Foundation Scotland is offering one-to-one meetings with groups who are seeking support to complete applications for funding from the Dorenell Windfarm fund that it manages.
Eleanor added: "All the monies raised from the farmers market goes to projects being run by the trust. Some of it goes back into the market, some to initiatives such as our Heritage Path which aims to improve popular beauty spots and install points-of-interest signage, as well as our local history app project.
"We're so grateful for all our volunteers who give up their time and turn up early on market days to help set up stalls. It's so appreciated – we couldn't run the market with out them."
The next market will run on Saturday, November 13, from 10am to 1pm, at Mortlach Memorial Hall, 6 Albert Place.
Visit the Dufftown & Mortlach Development Trust Facebook page to see a full list of stallholders.
Meanwhile, the trust has lined up a festive Christmas market for December 11, from 3-7pm. The Keith Silver Band and school choir will entertain visitors in the hall, where mulled wine, spiced cider and apple juice will be served and a raffle of a hamper and other goodies will be drawn. Local community group The Cabin is running a Santa's Grotto and Mortlach Primary School Parent Council will run a fundraising stall.
