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Isle of Wight Locally Grown Produce

When you taste our locally grown produce you taste the real Isle of Wight. Sip our beers, smell our fresh bread and bite into our homemade salads and you know they are made with care and passion. We love food fresh, tasty and organic.

A perfect place to farm

We are fortunate that our local climate means the Island is a great place to grow all manner of things. We're one of the sunniest places in Britain, have low rainfall, soft breezes and fertile soil, and being surrounded by rich and abundant sea, our seafood is always fresh too.

Supporting traditional, sustainable farming

We're proud of traditional farming, and on our small Island we understand our farming has to be sustainable. We can't afford to pollute our land, and we work tirelessly to support a healthy environment. Our restaurants and hotels are doing their part, and the ingredients in the food they serve you will often be locally grown and organic. So when you dine out choose locally grown produce and you will be helping to keep the Island's character and doing your bit for the environment.

What locally grown produce can you expect?

Island ice cream. Island mustard. Island bacon. Island lamb. Island poultry. Island crabs, fish and lobster. Island vegetables and salads. Island honey. Island flowers. We have a huge variety of healthy, tasty Island produce.

Island bakeries make local specialities. Island mills make traditional flours, and our Island dairies provide delicious products to our restaurants, shops and hotels. You shouldn't leave without trying the local apple juice and cider or without popping into our local vineyards to taste the best vintages. Then there are the beers, brewed by using traditional methods in the Island's breweries since the 1800's, they use natural spring water and a special yeast to create a unique taste.

Island Food & Craft Association

The Isle of Wight has its own Food & Craft Association (IFCA) a newly formed organisation (2006) with the aim to increase the level of local food & craft production and consumption on the Isle of Wight. 98%+ of the Island's food is currently imported which dramatically reduces the economic benefits to our predominantly rural economy and increases the global environmental impact of 'food-miles'.

Through choosing to buy local whilst holidaying on the Island you will be actively supporting our delicate Island economy & environment. Seek out our unique craft producers, support our independent farm shops & retailers and choose restaurants, pubs & cafés that offer local options.

For more details on IFCA visit www.islandfca.org which provides a full listing of shops, restaurants, cafés, hotels and B&Bs who have all committed to sourcing as much local food and crafts as possible. The site also contains further information about IFCA's activities, projects and events.

Isle of Wight Farmers' Market

The Isle of Wight holds a weekly Farmers' Market every Friday in St Thomas' Square, Newport, between the hours of 9.00am - 2.00pm. All products on sale are grown, reared, pickled, baked, smoked or processed by the stall holders and are all of local Isle of Wight origin.

So if you are doing a spot of shopping in Newport, why not drop by and sample a taste of the Isle of Wight!