GET BEHIND LOCAL PRODUCE

This year's Food & Drink Festival has been cancelled!

Please be aware that due to unforeseen circumstances, this year's Food and Drink Festival has had to be cancelled. The festival will however, return as normal in September 2008.

Calling all Islanders! Take the opportunity to experience the Food and Drink festival kicking off on the Isle of Wight from Monday 24th September until Friday 28th September. There will be a variety of daytime and evening events at venues across the Island.

The Food and Drink court where local producers of alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks are given the opportunity to sell their produce was new for 2006. The festival is a Chamber of Commerce initiative organised by Island Events Management.

On a national scale ‘Month of Taste’ started on 16th September until - 22nd October last year. Run by FARMA (the National Farmers’ Retail and Markets Association), this event aims to encourage people up and down the country to try great local and seasonal foods all-year round - so go ahead tantalize those local taste buds!

Don’t make this an annual taste experience, every Tuesday Islanders and visitors can sample fresh local foods at Newport Farmers Market. For a full list of the twenty Farmers’ Market members on this website. And if you can’t get to that market you can find out more information about your local farm retailers at www.farmshopping.com.

More information about the event can be found on the Island Breaks (Tourism) website.

FOOD AND DRINK FESTIVAL ACTIVITIES

Monday 24th September

• FARM WALK AND LUNCH (10.00am)
Godshill Park Farm and The Essex, Godshill. £15. Contact: 840781 or 528999

Tuesday 25th September

• BEES and TREES –taste 25 types of apples. (2.30pm to 4.30pm)
Limerstone Farm, Main Road, Brighstone. £3 Contact: 740 223 or 528999

• APICUS-EVENING WITH FINE FOOD WITH ROMAN TASTERS
(6.30pm to 9.30pm)
Brading Roman Villa, Morton Old Road, Brading. £16.50
Contact: 406223 or 528999

Wednesday 26th September

• TALK AND WALK ABOUT GARLIC (10.00am)
The Garlic Farm, Mersley Lane, Newchurch. £6.50
Contact: 865378 0r 528999

• COOK AND EAT SCALLOPS, MUSSELS AND OYSTERS PLUS TERRINES AND PATE (6.45pm)
The Seaview, The High Street, Seaview. £36.00 including champagne. Contact 613729.

Thursday 27th September

• CHINASHOP RARE BREED CATTLE THEN ON TO AFTON PARK NURSERY (10.00am to 11.30am) (12.30pm to 13.30pm)
Moor Farm, Godshill, Newport Road, Afton, Freshwater. FREE (Donations welcome). Afton Park £3. Contact: 528999

• BBQ NIGHT WITH La Banda (6.30pm)
(The Farringford Hotel, Bedbury. £8 for two adults. Contact 752500

Friday 28th September

• VISIT TO DAIRY FARM AND ICE CREAM PRODUCTION (11am to 5pm). Calbourne Classics, Three Gates Farm, Shafleet. FREE.