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Leeds Kirkgate Market\u2019s role at the heart of city life was highlighted in delicious style as local schoolchildren turned their hand to selling some very special produce.<\/p>\n
Pupils from a number of Leeds schools, including St Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary School in Beeston, have spent the last few months growing their own fruit and vegetables as part of Young Marketeers, a food education programme run by the School Food Matters charity.<\/p>\n
Their hard work has now paid off in spades, with the children getting the chance \u2013 thanks to a link-up between the charity and Leeds City Council \u2013 to sell their freshly-harvested produce in the famous surroundings of Leeds Kirkgate Market.<\/p>\n
Lettuces, potatoes, radishes and gooseberries \u2013 all grown with expert support in the grounds of the participating schools \u2013 were just some of the items that proved a big hit with customers after the youngsters set up shop in a section of the Market Kitchen street food hall on Friday (10 July 2026).<\/p>\n
The Young Marketeers programme has now held five events of this kind at the market since 2022, with its visits forming part of the busy schedule of family and community-focused activity hosted there throughout the year.<\/p>\n
And the shift put in by the latest batch of green-fingered growers was today hailed by a senior councillor as a great example of how this historic retail institution continues to connect with Leeds residents of all ages.<\/p>\n
Councillor Salma Arif, Leeds City Council\u2019s deputy leader and executive\u00a0member for economy, said:<\/p>\n
\n\u201cYoung Marketeers is a brilliant initiative and I\u2019m delighted that the council and our hardworking markets team have been able to support it once again this year.<\/p>\n
\u201cSelling their own fruit and veg at Leeds Kirkgate Market \u2013 with its vibrant atmosphere and remarkable history \u2013 will have been a really memorable experience for the children.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe day was also a reminder that the market isn\u2019t just a great shopping destination, it\u2019s a place that belongs to everyone in Leeds.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe events that are held there week in, week out through the year help make it a hugely valuable resource for people young and old.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m pleased and proud that our ongoing investment in the market means its future \u2013 as a community space as well as a much-loved shopping spot \u2013 is looking brighter than ever.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Supported by the National Lottery Community Fund and Lord Barnby\u2019s Foundation, the Young Marketeers programme is this year operating in 16 cities nationwide.<\/p>\n
It aims to help children develop practical gardening and enterprise skills while also nurturing their appreciation for the value of nutritious and sustainable food.<\/p>\n
Guests running the rule over the colourful range of produce, meanwhile, included the Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Stephen Holroyd.<\/p>\n
Money raised from sales on the day is being donated to Incredible Edible Leeds, a not-for-profit organisation which supports food growing projects in more than 20 parts of the city.<\/p>\n
Stephanie Slater MBE, founder and chief executive of School Food Matters, said:<\/p>\n
\n\u201cOur Young Marketeers programme gives children the chance to learn new skills, work as a team and take pride in what they\u2019ve grown.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvents like the one at Leeds Kirkgate Market are a celebration of the value of food education and a moment for enterprising young gardeners to shine.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
The market hosts around 250 community events \u2013 including food festivals and cultural celebrations \u2013 each year, with much of the programme being free and family friendly.<\/p>\n
Those events \u2013 coupled with an influx of new businesses, both food and non-food \u2013 have been a key driver of increased footfall during the post-pandemic period.<\/p>\n
The council\u2019s determination to keep the market on an upward trajectory has been further underlined by the soon-to-be completed \u00a310m refurbishment of its 19th-century \u2018blockshops\u2019 area.<\/p>\n
A planning application has also been submitted for STACK Leeds, a \u2018container-style\u2019 leisure attraction proposed for part of the market\u2019s outdoor section.<\/p>\n
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