Farmers’ markets have been carrying on during lockdown with strict social distancing, mask wearing and one-way systems in place.

Chairman Sheila Gawne said: ’We wanted to keep it going so that people didn’t have to go and queue at supermarkets.

’We take it to the people so people don’t have to travel. That was the whole ethos of the farmers’ markets, reducing the carbon footprint.

’And we’ve had plenty of footfall at all the markets, both new people and regulars.’

When the Food and Farming page visited the market at St John’s, Sheila’s stall was laid out with an array of fresh vegetables, cakes, crusty loaves and her renowned steak pies. She also had duck eggs from Helen Masson in Ronague which she recommends for home baking ’much creamier than hens’ eggs’, she says.

Dot Price, owner of Purely Plants from The Dhoor, had a row of full bags lined up behind her stall. She explained: ’Lots of people pre-order and come to collect. I also do veggie boxes locally in the Ramsey area.’

Dot’s stall was filled with fresh vegetables, hens’ eggs and duck eggs and homemade goodies including chicken liver pate and mushroom pate made with Manx cream and butter, lemon curd, jams and marmalade.

She also had locally grown fava beans which you can soak overnight and add to soups and stews and dried peas for making mushy peas.

John Harrison who farms at Archallagan was also there, offering free-range eggs and a range of honeys from beekeepers around the island.

These included Heather Honey from Laxey beekeeper Ian Elder who keeps hives at Agneash and which John reckons is ’just as good as Manuka’.

l You can find farmers’ markets every Thursday in St John’s Church Hall 11am to 3pm; every Saturday in Ramsey Courthouse 10am to 4pm; on the first and third Friday in the month in Village Walk Precinct, Onchan, 11am to 4pm and every third Sunday in the month at Colby Football Club between 11am and 2pm.

For more details phone 454549 or 470507.