The Mercat de la terra; organised by Slow Food Catalan; in Elne have announced their Spring 2021 dates for their monthly markets. These are great events and are hugely popular with locals and Catalan foodies from throughout the Department.

The Mercat de la terra is organised jointly by Slow Food Catalan and the Ville d’Elne. It is held in the Parking Sant Jordi in the high village of Elne from 9 until around 5ish.

Sunday 10th January

Sunday 7th February

Sunday 7th March

Sunday 4th April

Merca de la terra is a local producers and transformers market, with bars and food cooked by local chefs and producers. It bring together about 40 local producers, with a strong organic emphasis.

Slow Food is a consumer movement that was launched in Italy to reaffirm the value of quality food from local producers. It is a creative counter to the prevalence of fast food outlets through out Europe. We have supported Slow Food Catalan since it’s first markets and conference . It was a great day, well supported despite the COVID 19 confinement, saw and chatted to so manty local producers I have not seen for a long time due to the confinement, drank a  little too much wine and got home cold a tired shattered but with a Landy half empty.

I look forward to a moment when the food can be eaten together and not just take away, a long line of tables and chairs with people eating, listening to music and having fun in the centre of the market will be great to see; Markets are on of the few “social” occasions left at the moment but with mask wearing and distancing they are  still a  shadow of their former selves.

But well done Slow Food Catalan and Elne for finding a safe way to hold such an event. Roll on Spring.