Gardeners and allotment holders can swap their surplus fruit and vegetables for vouchers at the award-winning Keelham Farm Shop.

Now in its fourth year, the shop’s pioneering vegetable exchange scheme allows green-fingered folk to exchange their spare organic produce in return for credit to spend in store.

The initiative, which has already helped save 1,500 kilos of surplus foodstuffs from going to waste, offers Keelham customers even more choice of home-grown produce.

So far, nearly 100 local growers signed up to the scheme and this year Keelham are adding a host of extra incentives, including top tips and advice for budding gardeners, with special displays of vegetable plants in Keelham Home & Garden.

Nicola Bland, customer experience manager at Keelham Farm Shop, says: “Our customers really love this scheme. Whether you’re an enthusiastic amateur gardener or a customer without the opportunity to grow your own, everyone can benefit from fantastic tasting local produce. We always say food tastes better from the farm, but I’d also say that greens taste better from the garden, and I hope many more customers sign-up to the scheme this year, as it’s a sustainable solution to excess food in a way that is delicious, fun and affordable.”

Keelham customers can swap their fruit and vegetables in store from Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm. For more information on Keelham’s Vegetable Exchange Programme, visit keelhamfarmshop.co.uk.