A new not-for-profit initiative is seeking views from farmers, food producers and consumers on how to create a fairer way of connecting local food suppliers with people across the Isle of Man.

Fair Farm Foods has been established around the idea of strengthening links between the island's agricultural community and the people who buy and eat locally produced food.

The initiative is currently in its early stages, with its founders inviting feedback from the public before deciding how the project could develop.

In a statement, Fair Farm Foods said the idea began with a simple question: how could Manx farmers, producers and consumers have a fairer way to connect?

The group emphasised that it is currently focusing on gathering views from people across the island.

It said: ‘We're in the listening stage, because the right answer for the Isle of Man has to come from the people who live and work here.’

The initiative is seeking input from different parts of the local food supply chain, including farmers, producers and customers, with each group bringing a different perspective on how the system currently works.

It said these views would help shape what the project could eventually become.

The group is encouraging people to complete a questionnaire through its website, https://www.fairfarmfoods.com/, or share their thoughts in the comments on its social media posts.

The island already has a range of initiatives promoting locally produced food.

As an example, the Isle of Man Government's Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture launched a food and drink website in 2021 to help residents, businesses and visitors discover local producers and learn more about the island's food and drink industry.

Fair Farm Foods has not yet outlined a detailed operating model, with the current consultation intended to help establish what would work best for the island's farming and food-producing communities.