Local Produce in Chichester

Farmers markets, food producers and West Sussex ingredients

Chichester sits at the centre of one of the most productive agricultural areas in southern England. The coastal plain to the south, the South Downs to the north and the harbour to the west all contribute to a landscape that has been farmed intensively for centuries. The result is a city with excellent access to locally grown and reared produce, from vegetables and soft fruit to meat, dairy, fish and wine.

The Chichester farmers market brings local producers together in the city centre on a regular basis. Stalls sell seasonal vegetables, free-range eggs, artisan bread, cheese, cured meats, preserves and honey, all sourced from farms within the surrounding area. The market is well attended by residents who value knowing where their food comes from and who appreciate the quality that small-scale producers can deliver.

West Sussex has a growing reputation for wine production. The chalk downland soil and the mild southern climate are well suited to growing grapes, and several vineyards within reach of Chichester produce English sparkling wine and still wines of genuine quality. The vineyard at Tinwood near Halnaker is one of the closest to the city and offers tastings and tours.

Seafood is another local strength. The fishing fleet at Selsey, a few miles south of Chichester, lands crab, lobster and fish that finds its way into local restaurants and fishmongers. Chichester Harbour supports a shellfish industry, and the area has a long tradition of harvesting from the sea. Fresh fish is available at the market and from specialist shops in the city.

The Goodwood Estate has been influential in promoting local and organic food production. Its farm shop, restaurants and events have raised the profile of estate-to-plate eating, and the emphasis on provenance and quality has filtered through to other producers and retailers in the area.

Dairy farming on the Downs and the coastal plain produces milk, cream, butter and cheese. Several small-scale cheese makers operate within West Sussex, and their products appear at the farmers market and in independent food shops. Honey from downland beekeepers, rapeseed oil from local pressers and flour from nearby mills all contribute to a local food economy that is diverse and well supported by a population that is willing to seek out and pay for quality.

The connection between the city and its agricultural hinterland is not just a marketing exercise. The farms of the coastal plain have supplied Chichester for centuries, and the tradition of local food production and consumption has deeper roots here than in many places. The medieval market that once traded in the shadow of the Market Cross dealt in the same kinds of produce, grain, meat, fish and vegetables, that the farmers market sells today, and there is a continuity to the food culture of the area that links the modern shopper to a very long history.

For residents who want to eat locally and seasonally, Chichester provides all the ingredients. The combination of the farmers market, the farm shops, the independent food retailers and the restaurants that source from nearby producers creates a food ecosystem that is diverse, high-quality and rooted in the landscape. It requires a little more effort than throwing everything into a supermarket trolley, but for those who make the effort, the rewards in flavour, freshness and satisfaction are considerable.