With the news of Bibaloe Beg farm in Onchan closing its pick-your-own store, we focused our attention to the fruit and veg eating habits of residents.

Taking to the streets of Douglas, we asked the public what they thought about the upcoming closure as well as whether they managed to get in their five-a-day every day.

’We’re devastated about the closure. The pick-your-own farm is just brilliant,’ said Danielle Lace, 44, from Onchan.

’We go every year with the kids. Last year’s harvest was a bit slower because of the weather we got, but when it was opened up a lot of people flocked there.

’There’s raspberries, vegetables as well as strawberries. You need to make sure you get there early or you have to walk further down the field to get strawberries, it’s that popular.

’It’s such a shame it’s closing. We’ll be stocking the freezer this year.’

Colin Woodward and his wife Joan, both 69, from Onchan say they struggle to get in their five-a-day, but their grandchildren don’t.

’We’ve got a balanced diet but not so much of the fruit and not five portions,’ said Colin. ’The drawback in fruit is that you’ve got all that sugar in it.’

Grandchildren Erin and Maya, five and eight, from Ballasalla, said their favourite fruit was strawberries and vegetable were carrots. Both enjoy the pick-your-own farm and find it sad that it’s closing.

Colin added: ’I think having a pick-your-own farm is definitely better to help keep green sites in the island.’

Rob Lewis, 45, from Douglas, said: ’I try to eat healthy food, but my shift work makes this difficult unless I have enough preparation time to do it.

’I think we’re losing a lot of local produce stores. I don’t know if that’s because of bigger companies coming to the island, but it’s important to keep these places open. The pick-your-own farm has been going for a long time and we used to go when the kids were younger.

’You didn’t realise it at the time, but when you were picking strawberries you were doing something for local producers and were keeping it going.’

His daughter, Rachel, 15, said: ’I try to get my five-a-day in. We cooked when we were around dad’s last night. It was beef and broccoli - from Shoprite.’

Rob added: ’I tend to eat better when I’m with the kids. They educate me!’

Cheryl Richmond, 25, from Onchan, said she was ’devastated’ to hear the news of the pick-your-own store closing.

’If I had a field I would do it,’ she said. ’I’ve only been in the island for two years and have gone to pick my own strawberries two years consecutively. It’s sad to see local businesses shut and it’s a great tourist attraction and good for families.’

From Northern Ireland, she said she joins the ’strawberry watch’ on the shop’s Facebook page to ensure she gets there early when it opens.

Daniel Gorin, 48, who lives in Ramsey, but is from Massachusetts, said it was sad that the shop was closing.

’We took our daughter up there last year and it’s a nice place. It has nice views and obviously the fruit is fantastic. You couldn’t really ask for a nicer place to take your kids to go picking. We’ll definitely make it up there for this year.’