Wow this was an absolute delight to go to last weekend, I can't believe I have lived in Leeds all…read morethese years and never been before. I didn't actually believe that anything substantial, let alone good, could take place in the small rose garden outside of the bar, The Arc, in Headingley. It just looked too small. But when I went last weekend it was like the space had magically morphed and increased in size! There were stalls selling organic vegetables, fruit, cheese, local wine, local meat, cakes, bread, Indian food, eggs, even a stall selling plants from a nursery in Pudsey. They had some pots of raspberry stems but I was on my bike so I couldn't get them home. Fortunately, I got their card and might pop along during the week to pick some up as they were a good price and I know they will work on the allotment as they have been grown in Leeds. Besides the market stalls there was a live band! This made it for me as usually at farmers markets you want to linger a bit but once you've made your purchases can't really find a reason to but the band was the perfect Saturday morning entertainment. If you haven't been down you better give it a go!

There's nothing quite so entertaining as watching harassed-looking people stumble out of…read moreSainsbury's with bags bulging with bread, eggs and vegetables while you hop across the road to buy the same goods at cheaper prices and a far higher quality - such is the beauty of Headingley Farmers' Market. With stalls selling tasty organic vegetables, free-range eggs the size of your palm, fresh fish and meat, artisan cheeses and a whole host of seasonal, local treats, this market, held the second Saturday of each month, turns the weekly shop into a day out in its own right. There are always plenty of free samples to taste, and with each purchase helping to support local farmers and keep your food miles low, stuffing your face has never felt so good!

Last weekend I went along to the Oakwood Market, as it was their birthday celebration along with…read moreone of the stall holders, Indie Ices. I'd never been before but know Oakwood well, as I used to work nearby, and it's a lovely little part of Leeds. I love a good market, being a true browser and grazer, and this one is as good as they get. The weather was somewhat fortuitous, the sun shining and filtering through the nearby trees, but come rain or shine these guys come out en force every third Saturday of the month. The atmosphere on this occasion was fabulous, and I realise that this was in part due to the celebrations, but you can't deny the quality of the stallholders that come to this market. For this particular occasion the Foxwood Steel Bandits were playing out to the crowd, and having never come across a steel drum (timpani?) band before it was an incredible experience. If you've not had the pleasure of hearing Sweet Dreams by The Eurythmics by these guys you're really missing out. The market have strict rules about who may attend; only fresh, local and hand reared/made goods may be sold with no mass produced, or craft/clothing items are allowed. It means that the quality of the produce is extremely high, and whilst to a fashion prices reflect this, the point is that you are paying for the best. And, as I browsed the various stalls, the best of the best was on show. From home grown gourmet mushrooms, lovingly made preserves, fresh herbs, quality Indian spices from Asharun, delicious food from Moorish of Hyde Park, hand made chocolates and so much more it's well worth your visit and well worth your pennies. I had a delightful time! I ate a completely delicious, vegan lunch from Moorish, who made up a sort of African bento box for me to devour, and chose some fantastic ice cream from Indie Ices as a dessert. It was utterly creamy, made with fresh raspberries, and was the just the ticket for such a sunny day. If you've not sampled the delights of Moorish or Indie Ices before now, you really should. I purchased some of the home made chocolates, from Cutting Cake Patisserie, for my Mum (as she loved them when I bought some for her at Christmas!) and a gourmet mushroom box for my friend who is a fungi fiend. The entire outfit is a welcoming and friendly group, perfect for families, couples or simply a solo excursion, and I would highly recommend you stop by at the next one! With a cash point just over the road, a number of delightful spots to sit and a bustling community feel this is one of Leeds' finest independent markets.

With similar selection of traders to those found at Kirkgate Farmers Market you can find a massive…read morerange of local produce and continental products in particular olives, olive oil and such like. You'll be able to find ostrich eggs, home-made cakes, local honey, jams and preserves. Set in a lovely location with a happy, polite crowd of customers and cheery market holders. What a chilled out way to spend your pennies from a hard week at work. Open every third Saturday of the month by Oakwood clock.

A lot of stalls inside and out. If you need something I can guarantee you would find it here!read more

A humongous indoor market that holds hundreds and hundreds of stalls selling all kinds of food and…read moremerchandise. A wide variety of items can be found, although I can't speak for the quality. The website lists the available traders along with a map. The area was bustling with people on a Friday afternoon, but not as crowded compared to some of the other markets that I have visited. We simply did a brief walkthrough that took about half-an-hour. There is a food court too for those looking for a quick bite.

This is an excellent market, with a huge selection of items. Fresh bread, meat, fish and jars of…read morehome-made jam were the highlights the last time we went. The main problem I have with this market is that unless you get there within the first hour, all the good stuff is gone. However, it's the only place I've found to buy ostrich steaks in Leeds, so it's got something going for it.

Leeds farmer market is held on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month from 09.00 until 14.00. The next…read moreone will be the 7th of June. I was slightly disappointed when I visited I expected more stalls. But they did have stalls with yummy homemade cakes which were interesting. There were also fruit and veg stalls, meats and even a chocolate stall. I would suggest skipping breakfast or lunch and eating here as there is so much to try including roasted hog and ostrich burgers.

I was just randomly taking a drive around Leeds when I spotted a big pick your own strawberry sign…read morein a field. I got a huge rush of excitement and had to pull right there and then as i'd always wanted to go strawberry picking but never got round to it. The car park is a bit muddy at the moment after the wet weather we've been having but they have kindly put down straw to help prevent you getting stuck which is thoughtful. I have been twice this week since finding the place and both times the guys working there have been super friendly. There is a small hut were you collect your baskets from and pay when you've collected. Then there's two strawberry fields and a rasberry field too. My son adored picking raspberries he was so greedy I think far more when in his stomach than his basket. I did worry at first about how safe it was for him to eat unwashed fruit but franky there was stopping the kid anyway and I figured a tummy ache would teach for next time but so far no ill side effects have been seen. He is nearly two and I think he felt really grown up and independant picking and eating the berries by himself. I was happy to leave to roam free a bit and just enjoy himself. I thought this was an idea spot for taking children as its gets them outside in the fresh air and allows them to see where their food come from. Plus picking the fruit themselves might make the less fussy about eating it. Also its far cheaper than the local supermarket prices too so you can save a bit of money too.

Sourced Market is a really cool location, located in Leeds Skelton Lake Services, it is their…read moresecond location, and the newest of the two, I much prefer this to their original location at London St Pancras. The store is bright, bold and modern, they have a wide range of offerings, showcasing a variety of Yorkshire brands,, as well as fresh and organic produce, the prices are competitively priced compared to what you'd pay at a regular farmers market, and more than worth it for the quality. The staff were really friendly, they were happy to help and show me around the store and what items were gluten-free, I do think the gluten-free sections could have been better, but I was able to get some fantastic shortbread, from a local family-run business, in terms of hot food offerings I was able to have a rotisserie-style chicken. My chicken was really good, it was seasoned perfectly with a fantastic salt, they upgraded me for to a full chicken as they were close to closing time, which I felt was a kind gesture, it meant I had some to take home later, and it actually warmed up surprisingly well too. I do think it would have been nice to have stronger cutterly as the knifes kept breaking when I was cutting into the chicken breast, and I would have liked to have a selection of sides, some carbs to go with the chicken (potatoes, rice) would have made it perfect. I picked up a rotisserie style chicken, gluten-free short-bread and a pack of locally sourced eggs, which all came to £11.40 which I was pleased with. They do have a small seating area within the store, part of it was cornered off (alcohol section) which I presume was due to current UK government guidelins. 4* - The store had a really good feel to it and the staff were excellent, I loved the organic and fresh produce, this is one of the best stores I've actually found in a motorway service station, the main improvement would be to increase their food for now menu however possible, especially as UK government restrictions ease which means more people will be travelling, and adding a few more gluten-free options overall, as they were slightly limited in that department.

Lovely little farm shop with a good quality selection of fresh food and pantry treats. great deli…read morecounter and butchers. The chicken is up there with the best you can buy, you can tell that this a Labour of love. The owners are lovely too.

Excellent Service!! The butchers are friendly and will advise you on the type of cuts for what your…read morecooking. Ive visited this farm shop a few times now and being an indian i enjoy cooking curries... so i asked for the best cuts and the butchers were great on advice for what i wanted. Im also happy that I can buy fresh and know the food im buying is healthy and not packed with artificial ingredients. Thanks for supplying such great produce hand in hand with a fantastic service!!!! A Star!!

Do you fancy a place that has more awards than a pre Oscar's shindig? You know you do and…read moreSwillington Organic farm fits the bill. This is a great find and has an excellent reputation for some of the best organic meat and veg in the area. Not only do they have a long list of awards but they also provide supplies to Harvey Nichols as well. Not a bad boast. You can even try some rarer breed pork if that tickles your fancy. For me it's the organic free range eggs that appeal and some hearty herbs. You'll also be shopping in the knowledge that not only are they providers of organic produce but they also pride themselves on their fine animal welfare certificates for looking after all their animals. For me that is very important and I cannot praise them highly enough for it. They also offer guided walks around the farm and outlying area from time to time so it's a good idea to keep checking their website if you want to see more about where your food is coming from. Brilliant suppliers.

This company is fantastic and most of all passionate and committed to their values, to which i…read morewholly admire. The people i spoke to really knew their product and were so very much commited to ensuring the best lives for their animals this level of passion is wonderful and the sausages i tasted were wholesome, nourishing but best of all I knew when chomping down this meat had been looked after and nurtured in the right way. My hats off to you and i hope this business continues for many generations xx

I recently started getting meat from this remote little farm shop which lies in between Leeds and…read morethe airport, which I was drawn to by its bizarre name. Although I'm still none the wiser on why it's named as it is, I'm glad I stumbled across it - the bacon is some of the best I've ever tasted, while they do a few different types of sausages that taste so good you wonder if they're shortening your lifespan. The final word on this place, however, must go to its Ribeye steak. It's simply unbelievable. And yet cheap. Wow.