Our story

A community association, was formed to take forward actions from the community’s vision, one of which was to re-establish a fresh produce market.

The Countryside Agency (now Natural England) funded two successful pilot markets in 2004. Today, a group of volunteers from Food Train continue to put on the twice monthly market.

An evaluation of the pilot markets proposed that an organisation should be formed which would look at wider food issues and support the development of the market thereby ensuring its long term sustainability. Food Train was set up in September of that year and became an incorporated company in March 2006.

Food Train is a social enterprise. We think that means we are an organisation that works to bring about the environmental, social and economic change we desire directly through the trading activity we engage in.

Our legal structure is a company limited by guarantee with no share capital, which means any profits we make are invested back into the organisation.

Growing Communities, the pioneering local food organisation in Hackney, was our inspiration for our structure and huge thanks is due to them for their support and sharing.