Market Celebrates 25th Year in Tring

It’s 25 years since Tring Farmers Market opened, on 29 May 1999. The event was officially opened by John Craven (Newsround, Countryfile) with a pair of sheep shears (which had been used on a sheep the evening before!).

The first farmers market to open in Hertfordshire, and one of the first in the country, the initial event took a year’s worth of planning, and the inaugural market opened with 16 stalls, including fruit and veg grown by the, now Mayor of Tring, at Champneys; preserves by Janet Stupples who remains a stalwart stallholder, apple juice, eggs, preserves and crafts. They were soon followed by several meat producers from local farms, such as Potash Farm.

It has run fortnightly ever since without a break – including during Covid when possible – and is the longest-running farmers market in Hertfordshire and one of the longest-running in the country.

It now plays a key role in community events, such as the Apple Fayre, hosting bake-offs, and supporting new start-up businesses (the latest being Nonna’s Supper Club). If the weather allows, you’ll also find musicians there raising funds for Herts homelessness charity DENS.

Although supported by TringTown Council, the market is entirely voluntarily run.

The market is open every second and fourth Saturday of the month.