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Monthly produce markets in Forfar and Montrose are back up and running, with Carnoustie expected to follow soon.

More than 600 people turned up on their resumption in Forfar earlier this month.

There was no headcount in Montrose but organisers said it was also in the hundreds.

The previous group than ran markets in both towns, Angus Farmers’ Markets, folded earlier this year.

New community-led group Producers of Angus Markets (Pam) was set up to resurrect them.

Markets in Ballhouse car park, Montrose, are on the first Saturday of every month.

Forfar Community Campus will usually have them on the second Saturday of every month, but the dates there may have to change occasionally if the venue is not available.

Markets at both locations will run from 10am to 2pm.

Pam will plough all profits back into running them.

Fiona Walsh, the group’s chairwoman, said: “We are absolutely thrilled with the success of our first markets.  The response from the public has been phenomenal.

“We knew there was a huge appetite for local produce, but the turnout has exceeded all expectations.”

She added: “Our mission is to put producers back at the heart of our food system, providing a sustainable and resilient way for people to access high-quality, local food.

“It’s an approach that’s the perfect harmony with the Good Food Nation (Scotland) Act.

“And it shows how local initiatives can make a real difference in our communities.”

Fiona said this month’s markets were so busy that stall at one of them ran out of produce well before the end.

“We had to pack up early,” she said, adding: “The cake stalls had sold out by midday.”

In Forfar, crowds had to be held back for the official 10am opening.

One lucky shopper went home with the free raffle prize of a hamper of items donated by market traders.

Anona Gow, of Pitscandly Venison, said: “I’ve been trading at these markets for years and I’ve never seen anything like it.

“The crowds were amazing and I sold out of everything by lunchtime.  The new group has done an incredible job.”

One long-standing seller in Montrose said it was their busiest market in more than 20 years of trading.

And a shopper in Montrose said: It’s so great to have the markets back.

“I’ve missed being able to buy direct from the producers.  The atmosphere was fantastic, and I picked up some amazing products.”

Pam aims to get the Carnoustie markets up and running again by next spring.

Group secretary Hayley Wilkes said: “The whole team has worked tirelessly to get these events off the ground.

“From securing new locations and increasing our marketing activity to liaising with traders and the local authorities, it’s been a massive effort.

“Seeing the markets so busy and hearing the positive feedback from shoppers and producers makes all the hard work worthwhile.”

This article appeared in The Courier on 22 September 2025