FOR those of you who enjoy shopping online, there are now lots of ways you can support local food producers – the feel-good factor in doing so is just a click away.

Cumbrian Artisan, the farmers’ market collective of artisan producers, has some extra special deals this week.

For example, there’s two packs of sausages for £5 from the Cumbrian Pig Company, any three Mr Vikkis chutneys and pickles (selected products) for £9, any two Agnes Rose (made in Kendal) oils for £10, and one kilo of luxury king prawns from High Seas Seafoods for £8 (down from £12).

I also spotted an excellent selection of fresh fruit and vegetables on the Cumbrian Food Direct website including a pack of four mixed chillies (61p), a pack of baby corn (95p), celery (81p each), and fennel (£3.56 per kilo).

Based in Maryport with a ‘sub hub’ in Penrith, Cumbrian Food Direct provides a delivery service to customers throughout Cumbria, as well as an increasing number of schools, holiday cottages, campsites, caravan parks, and offices.

Deliveries can also be made to groups of customers at centralised delivery points in order to reduce food miles.

If you want to set up a local delivery group – and at the same time benefit from a regular discount on your shopping, or if you just want more information, then contact Kerry McPhee on 01900-818028.

Cumbrian Food Direct is supported by The Big Lottery Fund’s Local Food Scheme and the Rural Development Programme for England.

And now for this week’s regular Checkout contributors, starting with three-bone French-trimmed lamb racks at £3.50 each from butcher Peter Hutchinson at Greenodd. The lamb is Peter’s own reared from his farm at Woodland.

Peter also recommended rump steak (beef from Ian Edmondson, Ulverston) at £13 per kilo.

Greenlands Farm Village now has South Lakeland wild venison leg joints on at £16.99 per kilo. The joints – from 8oz to 1.5 kilos – just need flash roasting in the oven.

Higginsons Butchers at Grange-over-Sands has all cuts of new season spring lamb at £8.99 per kilo. While Watson & Woollard butchers in Kendal are doing air-dried Cheshire oak gammon steaks at £8.15 per kilo.

Back to Grange and Hazelmere Café and Bakery recommended two of their loaves – a multi grain and rye with white, wholemeal and rye flours, sesame, poppy and sunflower seeds (£1.60); also cheese and onion bread with white flour, fresh cooked onions and Cheddar cheese (£1.63).

What about serving with a delicious ready-made salad from Baba Ganoush in Kendal (£1.10 per 100g) – choose from fruity curry coleslaw, for example; red cabbage, fennel and sultana; or sugarsnap peas, ginger and soy.

Still in Kendal and fishmonger Nik Stirzaker of Kendal Fisheries in Stramongate this week recommended frozen wild Canadian sockeye salmon portions (9 – 10oz) at only £2.85 each; also hot smoked salmon slices at £2.99 each; and Morecambe Bay fresh dressed lobster halves (£6.99) caught by Nik himself from his boat the Prawn Star.

Finally, a range of sweet treats from Low Sizergh Barn farm shop which suggested delights from the Yorkshire-based Miniature Bakery including mini macaroons (£2.50, eight in a pack), mini chocolate meringes (£2.50, eight in a pack), chocolate ‘crisps’ (£1.99), and all butter Viennese biscuits (£1.80, eight in a pack).