Community group deserve praise for new food market

SIR, — It is great news that Downpatrick’s new artisan market will be launched next weekend.

The Downpatrick Community Collective deserves praise for spearheading the initiative and the choice of the Down County Museum to host the event is ideal. I hope the launch will be favoured by fine spring weather.

While we currently have a Saturday market in the town, the proposed food and craft market has the potential to attract more shoppers and hopefully they will also visit other businesses while in Downpatrick so everyone can benefit from this new initiative.

The artisan food market in Comber, which I have attended, is a major success and if this can be repeated in Downpatrick the town will be a major winner. The new market can have a positive impact on the economy, small business and agri-food sectors.

The proposed market is keen to promote local products and provides an opportunity to showcase a wide range of locally produced food and craft items which are of the highest quality.

I am very much looking forward to making way to the museum next weekend and hope the market will go from strength to strength.

Yours etc,

DELIGHTED,

Downpatrick.

(Name and address supplied).