To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research his Department has commissioned on the effects of farmers’ markets on (a) producers and (b) consumers. (241706)

In recent years DEFRA has commissioned general research relating to regional and local food and these studies have examined the impacts of farmers markets on both producers and consumers. A recent example of such a study is research carried out for DEFRA by the University of Plymouth entitled, “Understanding of Consumer Attitudes and Actual Purchasing Behaviour, with Reference to Local and Regional Foods”. A copy of this report can be found on the DEFRA website.