A farmers’ market which was suspended soon after its launch will not be revived, because of a lack of public support.
The City and Country Farmers’ Market, at Oxford United’s Kassam Stadium, was closed within a fortnight of its launch last November, after poor support from shoppers.
At the time, market organiser Chris Elder said bad weather had led to a disappointing turnout at the first two markets, but he planned to try again in the spring.
However, Mr Elder has decided against a relaunch.
He said: “We have been looking at it long and hard but I don’t think we’re going to return to the Kassam.
“Apart from the bad weather, it could have been the area as well.
“It’s disappointing really that we weren’t supported more by the locals, especially as we had some nice food and local producers supported us.”
Mr Elder ran two markets on Sunday, November 23, and Sunday, November 30.
He advertised heavily, and had already created successful farmers’ markets in several London locations before launching the Oxford market.
About 20 stallholders offered locally-produced fruit, eggs and cheese at the first event but only 700 people – a quarter of the expected turnout – attended the market, due to snow and rain.
The second market suffered a torrential downpour and only 400 shoppers turned up.
A third week was cancelled after only six farmers asked for stalls.
Caroline Tyler, of the Old Farm Shop, in Milton Hill, near Harwell, said she just about broke even after attending both markets.
She said: “It’s a shame that people didn’t support it.
“The location was fantastic but we did need public support.”
Fellow stallholder David Emmett, of Rockwell End House Farm, in Hambleden, near Henley, said: “I think it was a brilliant location, but possibly the wrong time of year.
“The weather was terrible. The first one was freezing and at the second one it was pouring with rain.
“I’m disappointed they’re not going to start it again.”
Mr Elder said he would not rule out starting another market in Oxford, possibly in Summertown, but said if he did it would not be before the end of the year.
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