Five years ago, local organic farmer Shadiya Kingerlee launched the weekly Wolvercote Farmers’ Market with the aim of setting up a market that would support the principles of organic production and sustainable farming. It was a brave move, particularly as this limited the number of producers who would be qualified to attend.

Her vision has paid off, however. There is a real buzz when you approach the Wolvercote Primary School, where the market is held between 10am and 1pm on Sundays. Customers arrive by bike, car and on foot, many wheeling pushchairs and prams, making it a real family event.

One of the many aims of this market, as set out in its constitution and trading policy, is to sell a wide range of different organic, good quality seasonal products at reasonable prices. All must be produced within a radius of 30 miles. Actually, most come from no more than ten miles away and fruit and vegetables on sale are usually harvested just hours before the market opens.

One of the many things that makes this market so special is the fact that customers can Google Wolvercote Farmers’ Market before leaving their home, to check that their favourite supplier will be there. Strict rules governing the balance of produce available means that they will not arrive to discover five people selling meat and no one selling vegetables.

The organic café is a big draw, as customers can tuck into a full English breakfast or enjoy fresh bacon baps. This is more than a café — it’s a meeting place where friends can gossip over a steaming cup of tea in a charming schoolroom decorated throughout with children’s paintings.

Ruth West, who helps organise the market, explained that despite the credit crunch, it continues to flourish. “Local is all very well but we also need good farmers who care passionately about the quality of food they produce and the welfare of the animals,” she said, adding that customers just wouldn’t turn up if the produce was not organic and local.

“The survey we undertook recently showed that our customers rate both organic and local highly. All our vegetables are organic and so is much of our meat. The meat producers who aren’t registered organic grow all their own feed for the animals — so also no GM — and they use very low inputs of pesticides and fertilisers so they are not heavily dependent on fossil fuels.”

Ruth is convinced that oil will go on getting dearer in the long term and climate change is a huge threat, which means low input agriculture serving local communities must become the norm.

“I think farmers’ markets can play an important role in supporting more and more farmers as they make the necessary transition to such a low input/low carbon agriculture,” she added.

I called on the day the traders were celebrating the market’s fifth birthday. David Bouror, from Swerford, had set up his stall of cobnuts and wet walnuts by the main door. He was also selling walnut oil pressed especially for him from the abundant crop he harvested this year. As his produce is seasonal, you only see David here during the autumn.

Inside, Olga Thomas was adjusting the trays of delicious home-baked cakes, biscuits and meringues set out on her stall. Olga comes from Bicester and markets her produce under the name Naughty Bites. She admits that arriving on time is hard work as she gets up at the crack of dawn to bake everything she aims to sell that day. Nothing on her stall is more than a few hours old and has all been made from the highest quality organic produce. Although it takes a big effort to get it all done, she says it’s worth it. Olga loves the buzz of the market and the fact that it’s a family event.

The eggs come from Willowbrook Organic Farm, a family run farm at Hampton Gay, which is but a handful of miles away in the environmentally sensitive Cherwell Valley floodplain.

The Radwan family believe that by selling their eggs at local markets such as Wolvercote, and therefore direct to the consumer, they are able to provide a product of unequalled freshness. Their eggs are certainly fresher by far than anything a supermarket can offer as they are usually collected no later than the day before sale.

Ruby Radwan has sold eggs here since day one, and until recently she was a member of the committee that runs the market. Mark Lynas, who writes on environmental matters has taken over her post.

William Black, the highly acclaimed foodwriter, turned baker from Appleton, is now trading at Wolvercote. William is known for his delicious sourdough breads and the delightful little saffron buns he makes according to a 17th-century recipe. It was fun watching him sell his goods, as customers would order one or two loaves of freshly baked bread, then make a grab for a saffron bun too, which they would eat while he was packing up the rest of their order.

stall, which attracts a great deal of attention, is Worton Farm Organics, Yarnton. Indeed this stall can get so busy that customers often have to queue to get served with the freshly harvested seasonal fruits and vegetables for which it is known.

Beechams Fairtrade coffee beans and ground coffee are also on sale here, along with award-winning home-made jams and Asian home-cooked savouries.

With the rise in food prices, it could be assumed that many eco-conscious shoppers may find that they can no longer afford organic produce and must look for cheaper options.

Not so. Because there is no middleman involved the price of goods at this market are very competitive.