Let's Buy Local

Over 40 Island producers have Wight Marque accreditation. If you haven't tried their stuff, here's what you're missing out on....

💚 ISLAND FRESHNESS: There’s freshness… and there’s Island freshness. Our food is sent all over the country, to top restaurants and fancy stores – but we’re the lucky ones who get the first pickings. That means that the milk could be in the cow in the morning – and in your tea in the afternoon. The fruit and veg is so fresh that it's literally picked from the fields and placed on the shelves. That makes it taste amazing and last longer. Try it… you’ll see!

💚 ISLAND QUALITY: Many of the producers have won Great Taste awards – and it takes a lot of work to make food this good. That’s why the meat is hung for longer than usual. The coffee is roasted in small batches. The salad dressings use foraged ingredients. The cheese is made with milk that’s fresh from the cow. This isn’t mass produced food, it takes time, effort and passion. But it tastes better that way!

💚 ISLAND SERVICE: Islanders want to give you a lovely experience when you buy their food. During the pandemic many went ‘the extra mile’ and transformed their businesses, offering delivery to your door, or click and collect. They enjoy sharing their passion for produce, so when you get your groceries, you can also get friendly advice, recipes, and maybe a chat about the weather. It’s not so easy to get that from a self-service checkout!

❤️ When you buy from a local producer, you're not just getting fantastic food and drink... you're investing in you community.

Look out for the Wight Marque - it means the produce is lovely and local!

Fancy a guilt-free festive tipple?

If so we recommend the Isle of Wight Distillery's Mermaid Gin. They recently received B Corp certification from non-profit organisation B Lab . This means the business is meeting high standards of verified performance, accountability, and transparency on things like employee benefits and charitable giving to supply chain practices and input materials. It's the first business on the Island to achieve this, and they smashed it by becoming the highest scoring gin distillery in England to date – so you can enjoy your drink with a clear conscience. 🎉

Xavier Baker, co-founder of Mermaid Gin said “Since our inception in 2014, the team at the Isle of Wight Distillery have been committed to the environmentally friendly production of spirits and the preservation of our island and marine environment. We want to use our brand as a force for good within the local community and are delighted to join a community of B Corp businesses that have been recognised for their commitment to operate in a way that has a positive impact on the planet”.

Xavier and the team have undertaken a number of initiatives to reinforce the distillery's commitment to sustainability including:

· Seagrass restoration - working with the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust to monitor and restore seagrass meadows in the waters surrounding the Island. It is estimated that 92% of these seagrass meadows have been lost over the last 100 years. As well as financially supporting the project, the team take part in surveys and beach clean-ups, working as ‘Marine Champions’ for the Trust.

· Working with Surfers against Sewage (SAS) a national marine conservation and campaigning charity tackling plastic pollution and protecting the UK’s coastline for people to enjoy safely and sustainably.

· The iconic Mermaid bottle is crafted from 100% natural materials, designed to be reused and plastic-free. The glass bottle is decorated with biodegradable paint and features an all-natural cork with a wooden top. The neck tag is recyclable and the tamperproof seal is crafted from corn and potato starch, which composts in food waste in 6-12 weeks. The cases of Mermaid Gin fit six bottles which do not require bubble wrap for protection and all tape has been replaced with metal staples.

As well as putting environmental sustainability at the core of its operation, the distillery has a strong focus on the community. The majority of employees live locally and it uses local suppliers where possible.

“Our mission when we founded Mermaid Gin and Vodka was not only to create great quality spirits but also install responsible practices in everything we do. We are a small team, the majority of whom live and work on the island and I am so proud of what we have all achieved. To be considered as a company that holds some of the highest standards of social and environmental performance, public transparency and legal accountability in the world of business, is a great honour. Not only are we passionate about making people’s lives better and considering the well-being of our planet, we are proud of our Isle of Wight heritage and hope this achievement will give other local businesses the inspiration to become B Corp companies as well.” adds Xavier.

Well, we'll drink to that! Cheers.

💚 Find out more at https://isleofwightdistillery.com/

The Isle of Wight Distillery is a Wight Marque member, which means the products are lovely and local.

If you fancy treating yourself to something extra special for Christmas dinner then check out two of the island's finest farm shops...

🐄 Briddlesford Farm Dairy has a farm shop that stocks lovely food from over 50 local producers, including the full range of their very own award-winning dairy products. The milk comes straight from their pedigree Guernsey herd that graze the fields behind the farm shop, and is used to make butter, cheese and cream. There's also a butchery on-site, offering meat including Briddlesford veal, sausages and home-made pies and casseroles, plus Cheverton Farm beef and lamb and Idlecombe Farm lamb.
Address: Briddlesford Lodge Farm, Briddlesford Road, Wootton, Isle of Wight, PO33 4RY
Tel: 01983 884650

https://www.briddlesford.co.uk/

🥦 Harvey Browns is a farm, food hall, butchery and cafe, all in one place. The impressive building opened earlier this year and is well stocked with local, regional and international delights. The farm is best known for its asparagus, but also grows strawberries, potatoes, squash, brassicas, sweetcorn and grains – all sold in the shop, when in season. The butchery has an extensive selection of Island reared meat, poultry and game. And out the back there's a lakeside café with gorgeous countryside views.

Address: Harvey Browns, Hale Manor Farm, Hale common, Arreton, PO30 3AR
https://www.harveybrowns.co.uk

These farm shops are Wight Marque members, which means their produce is lovely and local.

Looking for a good reason to pop into Caffe Isola in Newport? Well here are three…

1. 🎁 Thursday evening is your final chance to hear some carols while you browse the mini market stall hosted by Embracing Age Isle of Wight. And there’s a special Christmas menu available, with mulled wine. From 5-8pm, Thursday 15th Dec.

2. ☕️ Jingle Blend is back! This lovely coffee blend has notes of calendar chocolate, Christmas pudding and tangerine, how festive is that!

3. 👩‍🍳 The shelves are bursting with tasty local products from lots of Island producers and makers – making thoughtful gifts or tasty treats for yourself.

Caffe Isola is a Wight Marque member – as well as making and using local produce for their menu, they are great supporters of Island businesses – that really is lovely and local. 💚

https://islandroasted.co.uk/caffe-isola
85a St James St, Newport, PO30 1LG

Have you ever tried fresh milk? No, not the stuff from the supermarket, proper fresh milk? 🐄

Well, getting hold of it couldn't be easier as Crockers Farm Dairy has launched Cowes Milk – a new milk brand that's available 24/7 from a self-service vending machine in the milk hut at the farm.

You take along your bottle and get it filled with farm fresh milk (first time customers just need to buy a 1lt glass reusable bottle from the vending machine). It's all very easy to use and the machines take contactless payment.

The milk is gently pasteurised, and unprocessed in any other way, so the cream naturally rises to the top. It's whole milk that hasn't been through the industrial processes of homogenisation, separation or standardisation ... it really is farm fresh! And it tastes soooo good! A selection of milkshakes are also available.

Cowes Milk is run by the Bradley family – parents Paul and Mary and their four children Julie, Rose, Jack and Lucy, supported by son in law Martin, and Cain. Paul and Mary started the dairy back in 1981 with the purchase of 18 cows. They quickly expanded to build a milking parlour and their herd grew to 60!

So where is the farm? Cowes Road, of course, just opposite the County Showground at Northwood.

Find out more at https://www.cowesmilkiow.co.uk

Crockers Farm Dairy is a Wight Marque member, which means the produce is lovely and local.

Have you tried the jam made by our friends at The Fruit Bowl ? If you haven't, then we strongly recommend you put your supermarket jam to the back of the cupboard and give it a go... it really is sublime.

They grow loads of lovely fruit on their three acre site in the heart of Newchurch. It's all grown by traditional methods and without the use of fungicides, insecticides or artificial fertilisers. And then it's harvested and made into jam, right on the site. This year over 95% of the fruit content is from on-site production.

Food miles? Forget it, we're talking food metres here.

Check out their website for current offers: https://www.thefruitbowliw.co.uk

The Fruit Bowl is a Wight Marque member, which means the produce is lovely and local.



And you can book tours of the site in May, with talks available on request.

Christmas selection packs! This year there are 5 mini jars in each box, giving you a taste of our honeys from across the Isle of Wight. This is raw, unpasteurised and coarse filtered honey, giving you the pure taste straight from the hive.
(Also includes a mini honey dipper, not pictured.)
Available online with free delivery to Island addresses.

Look at this... treat someone or just spoil yourself..

400g Fudge Box £10
600g Fudge Box £15
(Includes Island delivery or collection. Mainland delivery is £3.50)

Boxes contain a random mix of yummy flavours, or take your pick from Wight Chocolate, Chocolate Caramel, Chocky Road (milk chocolate, mini marshmallow & honeycomb), Caramel Baileys, Vanilla, Cappuccino, Rum & Raisin, Walnut and/or Pecan, and not forgetting... Christmas Pudding!

Order now: https://isleoffudge.co.uk

Isle of Fudge is a Wight Marque member, which means the fudge is lovely and local.

Calbourne Water Mill have created a fab Christmas Hamper, bursting with Island-made favourites. The flour and oats are milled and rolled on site, using the power of water! The hamper contains a delicious selection of goodies, including muesli, porridge, flour, jams and a recipe card.

There's still time to order for Christmas: https://www.calbournewatermill.co.uk

Calbourne Water Mill are Wight Marque members, which means their produce is lovely and local.

👏👏 A huge congratulations to Rich and the team at The Isle of Wight Cheese Company.

They've recently had double success at the World Cheese Awards – scooping Silver for their Isle of Wight Soft and Bronze for the Isle of Wight Blue. All made on the Island with milk from the herd at Crocker’s Farm (Cowes Milk). How local is that!

So when you tuck into some of this Wight Marque award-winning produce you can feel very smug knowing that you've really kept your food miles to a minimum!

The Isle of Wight Soft sits between brie and camembert. It softens with age and keeps for up to nine weeks.

The Isle of Wight Blue is a naturally rinded soft cheese. It is blue veined and starts off with a fairly mild flavour – as it ages the flavour intensifies.

The cheeses are available in farm shops and delis across the Island, as well as featuring on the menus of many of our favourite restaurants and cafés.

You've got to check out the Christmas lights inside Caffe Isola – they are awesome! While you're there check out their amazing panettone, served with a dollop of mascarpone and fresh berries, yum! 😍

On Thursday they're open for late night shopping and entertainment. Embracing Age Isle of Wight are hosting a mini market, accompanied by a festive food and drink menu, with Christmas carols to get you in the mood.

5-8pm - 85a St James St, Newport, PO30 1LG.

Caffe Isola is a Wight Marque member, with lots of Island produce on their menu – which means it's lovely and local. They also stock a brilliant selection products from other Wight Marque members.

It’s nearly time to put the sprouts on! 😮
Talking of which, you can place your orders for Christmas boxes and fruit hampers from Farmhouse Fayre in Newport (from £15). And their legendary home-grown cauliflowers and cabbage are available now, fresh from the field – how local is that!

Pop in or place your order online: https://farmhousefayre.co.uk/
85-86 Upper St James Street, Newport, PO33 1LG
Open Mon- Sat 8:30am-5pm

Farmhouse Fayre is a Wight Marque member, which means it sells lovely local produce, and also stocks a range of products from other Wight Marque members.

🎅 Get your skates on and book your slot for BREAKFAST WITH SANTA tomorrow and on 10th December at The White Lion - Niton.
There's a tasty sounding menu, from pancakes or porridge to the full English (time to loosed the belt a notch). And Santa will be bringing gifts and reading stories.

The White Lion is a Wight Marque member, with lots of Island produce on their menu – which means it's lovely and local.

Hello, how are you? It's been a while! 😀

We're back to highlight some of the Island's amazing makers, bakers, growers and brewers, and tell you what they're up to in the run up to Christmas.

When we buy from local producers more of the money we spend goes straight back into our community – through jobs, investment and taxes.

There's no doubt that things are tougher this year. But there's also no doubt about the quality, taste and freshness of our Island produce. So even if it's an occasional treat, or a Christmas gift, try something local if you can. You'll notice the difference, and so will our community.

Look out for the Wight Marque when you're shopping – it means the produce is lovely and local!

You can find a list of Wight Marque member here: https://iwcountyshow.co.uk/wight-marque

This should wake you up!

Island Roasted have released the first batch of their festive coffee – Christmas Jingle Blend. It's available now on the shelves at Caffe Isola, in Newport, or you can buy online. This omniroast is compatible with a broad range of brewing methods, bringing you the flavours of Christmas in a cup – calendar chocolate, Christmas pudding and cranberries.

Island Roasted and Caffe Isola are members of Wight Marque – a food provenance scheme that means their produce is high quality and has been lovingly made, grown or manufactured on the Isle of Wight.

islandroasted.co.uk/product/jingle-blend/

Isle of Wight Meat Co. CHRISTMAS DRAW 🍗🥩🍗🥓
14th December 2021

This should keep you going until 2022! Enter for a chance to win an amazing meat hamper, including a 6kg turkey and 2kg Isle of Wight gammon!

Isle of Wight Meat Co. is based on the family-run farm in Cheverton. The meat hangs, on the bone, in the Himalayan Salt Chamber for up to 8 weeks. This results in rich, sweet buttery flavours and juicy tenderness.

And of course, it has Wight Marque accreditation, meaning it's lovely and local.

https://www.isleofwightmeat.co.uk/christmas-draw/

Winter 2021 Support the Isle of Wight's artisan makers, bakers, growers and brewers this Christmas. You'll notice the difference... and so will they. Wight Marque Christmas offers Isle of Fudge Get 25%

🎁 Isle of Fudge
25% OFF selected fudge until 24th December 2021.

Choose between their delicious homemade dark, milk or Wight chocolate fudge. 😋

Isle of Fudge are members of Wight Marque – a food provenance scheme that means the produce is high quality and has been lovingly made, grown or manufactured on the Isle of Wight.

Get the discount code and ordering details for this offer at https://letsbuylocal.org.uk/

Let's buy local Let's Buy Local is a campaign to encourage Islanders to explore the brilliant shops on our doorstep. Let's Buy Local is a campaign to encourage Islanders to explore the brilliant shops on our doorstep.

Eat Street IOW Christmas Shop
& Hampers

Have you spotted the Eat Street trailer around the Island? They’re at a different town throughout the week and make amazing food to order, for you to collect at a pre-arranged time slot.

And now they have a fantastic online Christmas shop selling a whole range of sweet and savoury Island produce that makes great gifts or will take your Christmas table to the next level.

Treats include local cheeses, homemade pies, fruit curds, Christmas cakes and chocolates. Plus there’s a lovely range of hampers to choose from, or you can build your own. And everything is delivered by hand to you door. How easy is that?

Find out more about the Isle of Wight’s artisan makers, bakers, growers and brewers at https://letsbuylocal.org.uk/

🎁 Briddlesford Farm Farm Christmas Market
Sunday 5th December, 3pm – 7pm.

Don't miss this chance to stock up on some quality local Christmas gifts made here on the Island. The elves from over
30 independent business are beavering away right now to create a spectacular selection of presents.

The Briddlesford Farm shop will be open for you to buy some of their award winning produce. And Bluebells will be serving a tasty selection of refreshments to enjoy as you wonder around the stalls… grilled Halloumi, burgers with chutney, mince pies and mulled wine 🍷🥪.

See you on Sunday 👋

Briddlesford Farm, Briddlesford Road, Wootton Bridge, Ryde PO33 4RY

Check out our local Christmas offers at https://letsbuylocal.org.uk/

Let's buy local Let's Buy Local is a campaign to encourage Islanders to explore the brilliant shops on our doorstep. Let's Buy Local is a campaign to encourage Islanders to explore the brilliant shops on our doorstep.

The Fruit Bowl grow their own fruit on their smallholding in Newchurch. And they’ve had a bumper Autumn harvest of raspberries, so their legendary Raspberry and Redcurrent jam is back on the shelves! 🙌

There are 15 other flavours to choose from, and we’ve worked our way through most of them... they really are in a different league to your usual supermarket stuff. Absolutely jam-packed with juicy fruit and flavour!

Any 3 jams delivered to your door £25
Any 8 jams delivered to your door £50

Tasty Christmas presents, or just treat yourself.

Pop over to https://letsbuylocal.org.uk/ for a list of lovely food offers from the Island's best artisan growers, bakers, makers and producers.

Fancy a staff Christmas lunch for free?
Check out this competition from Eat Street IOW ...
https://eatstreetiow.co.uk/eat-street-small-business-competition/
Yum!

Eat Street small business competition | eatstreetiow.co.uk

Have you got pre-festive stress?🤒 Does the thought of mince pies bring you out in a rash? Julie Jones-Evans is the co-owner of Dragonfly Wellbeing Isle of Wight in Newport, which sells lovely things to help you keep your cool this Christmas, including crystals, incense and aromatherapy oils.

You might want to ask Santa for a crystal face roller (£25). They’re widely used in China, where face rolling is an ancient technique used to promote glowing skin. Lots of celebrities swear by it and Meghan Markle is said to be a fan. You just roll the big end over your cheeks and forehead, and the little end around your eyes. “It’s so soothing”, says Julie. “Crystals have healing properties and we’ve got a rose crystal roller that’s very nurturing. We also sell a jade roller that’s said to bring health, wealth and prosperity - it’s the ‘stone of heaven’ in Traditional Chinese Medicine. It’s very relaxing to roll one over your face in the evening, brushing the stress of the day away!”

Julie urges us all to shop locally for our pressies 🎁, to support our high streets. You will also find some unique and wonderful gifts. She says: “When you shop locally, you get great choice, expertise, customer service and people will go that extra mile for you. So have a happy local Christmas!”

BEAT THE SEASONAL SLUMP
🧘 Incense – Nag Champa, a traditional Indian blend, will transport you to another continent.
🧘 Crystals – Amethyst is believed to promote relaxation (it’s also a pretty purple colour).
🧘 Singing bowls resonate at specific frequencies and practitioners say that the sounds can help you unwind.

All products are available from Dragonfly Wellbeing Isle of Wight