THE Farmers' Market is back in town on Saturday to tempt customers with the best in local fare.
Co-ordinator Derek Godfrey Brown said the market — which is held in the Charter Hall from 9am to 2pm — has got to take up the challenge of promoting local produce.
'We won't get a better chance to take it up than we have now. Local food helps the local economy. It creates jobs and the food isn't travelling thousands of miles,' he said.
'What we want to do is help create a buoyant economy and the farmers' market is a way of keeping the flag flying.'
This is the third market to be held in the wake of the foot and mouth crisis. Prior to that the last farmers' market was in February.
Mr Godfrey Brown said there was a lot of enthusiasm for the farmers' market.
'People have tried the produce and realised it is very tasty and fresh — and not that much more expensive. The stall holders say they are greatly encouraged by the number of people that are buying,' he said.
'It has now become a part of the town. At one stage town traders were worried but now they tell me they would like a Farmers' Market every Saturday because it brings people in.'
Mr Godfrey Brown said it benefited a far wider area than simply Okehampton.
'It brings more people into the town and as a result the whole place is buzzing.'
He said if Kent was known as 'the Garden of England' then Devon could be christened the 'Food Basket of England'.
'We do not market ourselves enough,' he said adding that the freshness and quality of local food was amongst the best in the country.