In the final few decades of the 20th century, the rise of the automobile and the large supermarket made it seem, for a while, as if the ancient tradition of markets in the centre of Edinburgh no longer had a place. Now, though, the farmers round about Edinburgh are keen to find new outlets for their produce and people are looking for ways to buy food that is fresher and cheeper than that that the large supermarket chains can provide.

In other European cities, food markets are gaining a new prominence. Cork's English Market, for example, has become one of the city's favourite institutions and Barcelona's Boqueria is popular with both locals and tourists. Until relatively recently, the food markets of the Old Town had a central role in keeping the people of Edinburgh fed. Perhaps it is time to rediscover this tradition and create a market fit for the 21st century. 

Several possible sites exist. The Old Town Development Trust would like to help this exciting possibility become a reality.