She had come to Wallington Farmers’ Market for tomatoes. Nothing more.
Then she saw him across the stalls, holding a loaf of sourdough as though he knew exactly what she’d been missing.
“Something sweet?” he asked.
She glanced at the cakes, pastries and artisan chocolate. This was no time for restraint.
As live jazz drifted from the bandstand, she wandered past freshly harvested microgreens, aubergines, cucumbers and sweet peppers. New-season apples and pears caught her eye; foraged and locally grown mushrooms promised dinner possibilities. There were Kent cobnuts, UK walnuts and fresh fruit juices—and she was only getting started.
She lingered over jams, marmalades, jellies and chutneys, fresh sauces, passata and chilli sauces. Local honey offered sweetness; peanut butter promised a lasting attachment.
Then came the free-range, grass-fed meat, poultry, game and eggs, followed by biltong, pies, pasties and sausage rolls. Artisan cheeses and butter stole her heart. Quiche, Middle Eastern baked goods and handmade crackers persuaded her to buy a little more.
Among the local artists’ handmade baskets, jewellery, handmade candles and aromatherapy skincare, she found the perfect candle for dinner.
By the time she returned to the bread stall, her basket was full.
“Just tomatoes?” he asked, smiling.
“Plans change,” she replied.
Find your own market romance at Wallington Farmers’ Market, this Saturday 12th September, 9am–1pm, outside the Old Town Hall & Library Gardens.
Fresh food, handmade treasures and live jazz in the bandstand. Come for the tomatoes. Leave a little smitten.
