HAMPSTEAD residents who are great supporters of fresh food and local produce are the reason the Community Market just off the high street has been kept alive, stallholders told the Ham&High this week. The market which has a fishmonger, a fruit and veg st

HAMPSTEAD residents who are great supporters of fresh food and local produce are the reason the Community Market just off the high street has been kept alive, stallholders told the Ham&High this week.

The market which has a fishmonger, a fruit and veg stall and a florist among others is a bastion of independent trading in the area.

And owners say the continued support of Hampstead's ethical shoppers is the only way they can continue.

Andy Theodorou, company director of Hampstead Seafoods said: "We've been here for twenty years and the people that live in this area buy the quality of fish that I sell.

"I pride myself on selling great fish so it's a great area to work in as a fishmonger and my customers are the best in the world to deal with.

"We wouldn't have traded for 20 years if residents didn't appreciate us. We go to market every day so we don't have fish lying about like some places."

Dean Camera is the co-owner of Pure Fruit, who has been trading on the high street for 12 years, after her family ran a shop in Heath Street for 30 years.

She said: "It's great to be able to serve local people and it's good to be part of the old face of Hampstead, not the new conglomerates that are starting up.

"People in Hampstead only buy top quality so we only sell A1 top notch fruit and veg.

"We source our stock from Spitalfields at 1 am every morning."

Others are, however, already feeling the strain from the changing landscape and hope residents will stick by stalls for their great price and quality.

Jennifer Baker's family has been running the Hampstead Community Florist in Hampstead High Street for 28 years.

She said: "Hampstead has changed - its designer shops and tea shops have increased. There aren't any proper shops any more.

"As a shop we have reasonable prices - where else can you get a bunch of daffs for £1.50?

"We get our flowers from the New Covent Garden Market in Vauxhall every day at 4am.