THE fastest-growing phenomenon in rural regeneration during the past year has been the expansion of Farmers' Markets throughout the country and more are being added to the list this month in Hereford and Brecon.

Hereford will be holding its first farmers' market in the centre of the city at High Town and the Butter Market.

The county will then have a Farmers' Market in the county each week, with Ross on the first Friday, Leominster on the second Saturday, Hereford on the third Thursday and Ledbury on the fourth Wednesday.

The first Farmers' Markets to be held in Powys are taking place in the Market Hall in the centre of Brecon on Saturday, June 10, followed by markets on Saturday, July 8, and September 9.

Now that all the Herefordshire markets are set up, the county's Food Links organisation is determined to ensure that the high standards are maintained at the markets.

"We want customers to buy with confidence, knowing that they are buying from genuine local producers," said Diana Palmer, co-ordinator with Herefordshire Food Links.

"We want to protect stallholders from any unfair competition and have decided to visit the premises of all our stallholders, so that we can be confident that we are running a genuine Farmers' Market," she continued.

For more information, call Diana Palmer on 01873 890675.