My love of markets came from my childhood. Every Saturday, my mother would take me to our local market to buy food for the weekend. I always remember the excitement of buying the first local strawberries or purple sprouting broccoli, duck eggs, rabbits or a tub of butter cut from a huge block. The smell of freshly-baked bread permeating the market also sticks in my mind.

I remember buying household bargains as well, from washing powder and polish for our shoes, to dog biscuits and tea towels. I loved the noise the market made where every trader had his unique way of shouting his wares – it all sounded like an opera in full swing. Then, of course, after the shopping we were allowed an ice-cream whatever the weather, always with a chocolate flake.

The first time I visited Leicester Market I was amazed at the great range of quality produce, its ethnic diversity and the good prices of all the items on sale. For me, the fact that Leicester is the largest covered market in Europe really makes it the unsung hero of the East Midlands.

I have had the privilege of being the Ambassador of the Market this year and I have met so many people who are passionate about what they sell on the market and, indeed, its future success. But, a market needs people to be successful and we need to keep reminding everyone to use this gem of Leicester as many times as they can. This includes local food businesses.

Word about this great market has also reached London with Leicester chosen as one of the markets to be filmed for the new Channel 5 series, Street Market Kitchen. I was asked to take part in one of the programmes which is due to be aired some time in September, so look out for some great coverage of our market then.

As well as the main market, there is also Beaumont Leys market just outside the centre of Leicester. I was there on Friday July 30th doing cooking demonstrations all day. Questionnaires were handed out to see what people want to see there, such as whether they want more food stalls. The market has suffered in recent years as a large Tesco nearby has taken a lot of the trade and it has been difficult for the traders. We have to use markets like these or we will lose them, which would be terrible for the area and for those people trading out of the market.

Leicester is a unique city with both of its wonderfully diverse markets and I am proud to be associated with it.

For more information on Rachel Green visit her official website at www.rachel-green.co.uk

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