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Market wins top award for supporting healthy eating 

24 May 2011


Bolton Market has scooped a prestigious award for promoting healthy eating.


The market, on Ashburner Street, has been awarded the ‘5 a day Supporter of the Year’ at the annual Re:fresh Awards.
The awards recognise the cream of the UK fresh produce industry and the results were announced in a ceremony in London last week (May 19).


Bolton Market, which is reknowned for its fruit and vegetable stalls, beat international competition from the likes of exporter Foods from Spain and wholesaler George Perry to win the award.


Bolton Council was praised by the judges for its work with NHS Bolton.


The market’s in-house cookery demonstration kitchen was recognised as an innovative way to encourage healthy eating.
NHS Bolton community nutrition chef Joan Farnworth, regularly uses the kitchen, to encourage people to have their five-a-day portions of fruit and vegetables.


At the demos, shoppers can sample the dishes and speak to the NHS team to get tips about healthy eating.
The market, which has already been crowned the Best Indoor Market of the year*, has a growing reputation as the premier food market in the North West.


It boasts a number of famous fans including celebrity chefs Si King and Dave Myers from The Hairy Bikers; Thomasina Miers and Tom Bridge.


And last week a Danish delegation visited the market to get some ideas for a new indoor market in Copenhagen.

Lesley Jones, Deputy Director of Public Health at NHS Bolton, said: “Eating fresh, local produce is one of the healthiest things anyone can do. We are very lucky to have Bolton Market on our doorstep. Our partnership work with the council gives us an opportunity to give people advice on how to turn that great produce into tasty, healthy meals.”


Bolton Council’s Executive Member for Environmental Services, Councillor Akhtar Zaman, said: “This award is a real credit to the market staff and the work we do with NHS Bolton. It’s great that we have chefs like Joan who want to cook at the market regularly and pass on healthy eating tips in a fun way. Best of all the public can pick up the produce at reasonable prices, fresh from the market.”


More than 2.5 million people visit the market annually, which sells everything from fish to fabric, gifts and plants.
The indoor and outdoor market is open Tuesday and Thursday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm. The car boot market is open Sunday, 7.30am to 2pm.