Farm shops and markets

The most practical way to shop at a West Sussex farm shop or market is to use a three-part decision rule: check the provenance label, match your purchase to the seasonal calendar, and verify the certification scheme. This guide explains how to apply that rule across West Sussex, the South Downs, Chichester, Arundel, and Worthing, so you can choose where to go and what to buy without relying on hearsay.

How to use provenance, season, and labelling

Provenance in West Sussex means the product was grown, reared, or made within the county or an adjacent county (West Sussex County Council, 2025). When you see “locally produced” on a label, ask for the specific farm name or location. A stallholder at a farmers’ market should be able to tell you the village or parish. If they cannot, that is a sign the claim may be vague.

Season is your second filter. The West Sussex growing calendar has clear peaks: asparagus runs from May to June, strawberries from June to August, and apples from September to November (VisitBritain, 2025). Outside those windows, the same fruit or vegetable is almost certainly imported or from a heated greenhouse. For meat and dairy, seasonality is less about the calendar and more about the animal’s life cycle, lamb appears in spring, game in autumn. A farm shop that sells strawberries in February is not selling local, seasonal produce.

Labelling is your third check. The Red Tractor logo means the product meets UK standards for food safety, animal welfare, and traceability (Assured Food Standards, 2025). It covers meat, eggs, dairy, and some fruit and vegetables. The LEAF Marque indicates the farm uses sustainable methods. Organic produce must carry the Soil Association organic logo (Soil Association, 2025). If a market stall displays none of these marks, ask the seller directly about their farming practices. Honest producers will be happy to explain.

West Sussex farm shops and markets

West Sussex has more than 25 farm shops and over 30 farmers’ markets (West Sussex County Council, 2025). Most markets run weekly or monthly on Saturdays or Sundays, but the day pattern varies by venue (West Sussex County Council, 2025). The highest density of farm shops is in the Horsham, Chichester, and Mid Sussex districts (West Sussex County Council, 2025). Many farm shops close or reduce their hours between November and February (West Sussex County Council, 2025), so check before you travel.

The West Sussex Food & Drink Awards list 15 farm shops and markets in their 2025 awards (West Sussex County Council, 2025). That list is a reliable starting point because it is audited by the county council. Do not assume a venue on that list is open every day; use the award listing to find the name, then verify opening times on the venue’s own website.

South Downs farm shops

The South Downs National Park Authority runs a local food scheme that certifies farm shops meeting its criteria. As of 2025, there are 12 certified farm shops within the national park (South Downs National Park Authority, 2025). These shops are required to sell produce from farms inside the park or from immediately adjacent areas. If you are walking the South Downs Way or driving through the scarp villages, look for the scheme’s logo at the shop entrance or on its website.

A farm shop inside the park may also sell non-local items such as coffee, chocolate, or olive oil. That is not a fault, but it means you need to apply the provenance rule to each item. The meat counter is usually the strongest local section: lamb from downland flocks, beef from Weald herds, and pork from outdoor-reared pigs. Ask the butcher for the farm name. If they give a vague answer, buy something else.

Chichester

Chichester district has a mix of farm shops and a weekly farmers’ market. The Chichester Farmers’ Market is held in the city centre on a set day each month. The county council’s market list (West Sussex County Council, 2025) is the best source for the exact schedule because the day can shift for holidays.

Chichester Harbour and the coastal plain produce early vegetables, especially new potatoes and salad leaves in late spring. The soil is fertile and the climate mild, so the season starts about two weeks earlier than in the Weald. If you are visiting the harbour or the city, look for a farm shop along the A27 or A286 that sells its own field veg. The labelling will usually say “grown at [farm name]” rather than just “local”.

Arundel

Arundel has a small farmers’ market and several farm shops on the roads leading out of the town. The market runs on a Saturday, but the schedule is not fixed year-round (West Sussex County Council, 2025). The town’s position between the Downs and the Arun valley means you can buy both downland lamb and valley fruit at the same stall.

The Arundel Wetland Centre and the castle do not sell farm produce, but the market stalls in the town centre do. If you are visiting the wetland centre, combine it with a stop at a farm shop on the A27 towards Worthing or the B2139 towards Pulborough. Check the shop’s website for winter hours; many close earlier in December and January.

Worthing

Worthing district has a regular farmers’ market in the town centre and several farm shops in the surrounding villages. The market runs weekly, but the day varies by season (West Sussex County Council, 2025). Worthing’s coastal position means it gets the earliest local asparagus in May and the longest season for outdoor tomatoes.

The farm shops in the Worthing area often sell fish from Shoreham Harbour and crab from Selsey. Fish provenance is harder to verify than meat because the catch may be landed at a different port. Ask for the boat name or the landing port. If the seller cannot name the boat, the fish is likely bought from a wholesaler, not direct from a local fisherman.

A checklist for your visit

Before you go, run this five-point checklist:

1. Check the market day: Look up the official schedule on West Sussex County Council’s website (2025). Do not rely on a third-party calendar.
2. Verify the season: Use the VisitBritain calendar (2025) to see what is in season now. If the main crop is out of season, the market will still have meat, eggs, and dairy.
3. Look for logos: Red Tractor, LEAF Marque, or Soil Association. If none are visible, ask the seller.
4. Ask for the farm name: A genuine producer will name the farm and the village. A trader who says “local” without details is not giving provenance.
5. Check winter hours: Many farm shops close or shorten hours from November to February (West Sussex County Council, 2025). Call or check the website before driving.

What to do with what you buy

The point of shopping at a farm shop or market is to buy food that has a known origin and a short supply chain. That means the produce will be fresher and will last longer than supermarket equivalents, but it also means you should eat it in season. Buy asparagus in May and eat it within two days. Buy apples in September and store them in a cool, dark place. Buy lamb in spring and freeze it if you want to eat it in winter. The seasonality is not a restriction; it is a guide to peak flavour.