SHOPPERS are being urged to buy local and support the first farmers' market in Okehampton for three months on Saturday.
The market, which has provided an outlet for small local producers from woolmakers to cheesemakers and cidermakers, was closed due to the foot and mouth crisis.
Now market organiser Derek Godfrey Brown from Okehampton OK said everyone was very keen to get back to business.
'I have been in regular contact with the market traders and encouraging them during this crisis,' he said. 'It has been a difficult time for everybody and people are coming up to me in the street and saying they are delighted the market is opening up again.'
One of the delighted stall holders is Jenny Neal from Beaworthy who sells wool and garments under her trade name 'Spinning Jenny.'
'It is wonderful to come back to Okehampton,' she said. 'We have sheep and Angora goats and since the first outbreak in February we have tried not to go out in order to safeguard the animals.
'We are looking at this farmers' market on Saturday as a new start but what we really need badly is customers.'
Janet White of Brook Farm Free Range Eggs near Okehampton said it was important to support local producers, especially in the current economic climate.
'We had to close our little farm shop because of foot and mouth restrictions so we have not done any business that way for eight weeks,' she said.
'I know it has been an inconvenience for people who usually buy their eggs on the way home but we could not take any chances.'
Moyra Robley of Holsworthy Organics has also been unable to sell vegetables directly from her home because she was within three kilometres of an infected premises.
'Our packing shed is also within an infected area so our vegetable box scheme has been affected,' she said.
Mrs Robley said she was reliant on the market for business and advertising.
'We do go to other markets as well but we find Okehampton the best,' she said. 'We are very pleased to be coming back.'
The Farmers' Market begins at 9.30am in the Charter Hall, Okehampton.