WEST Somerset residents are being encouraged to join financial forces with local landowners and farmers as part of a new scheme designed to support the district's agricultural economy.

Members of the eco group Transition Minehead and Alcombe are inviting people to a public meeting to find out more about the possibility of setting up a community supported agriculture scheme in West Somerset.

Under the scheme, people make a financial commitment to a farm in return for more direct involvement and a weekly box of produce.

The aim is to give consumers direct access to fresh, seasonal produce, while giving farmer's a guaranteed income and market for their goods.

Carol Stone, of Transition Minehead and Alcombe, said: "The scheme relies on a financial commitment from members to enable farmers to be confident of a secure income based on growing produce for local people.

"In order for a scheme to run locally we need pledges of support and also to find a farmer or farmers willing to work hand in hand with the community."

At the public meeting, there will be a presentation about community supported agriculture and a speaker from Agrarian Renaissance, a group which promotes environmentally friendly community food production.

The scheme has already been successful in more than 100 communities across Britain according to the Soil Association.

The association's regional development co-ordinator Traci Lewis said the scheme also put an emphasis on environmental stewardship to ensure the health, fertility and sustainability of the land involved.

She added: "The basic idea is for consumers to financially commit themselves to supporting the farm and providing a fair income to the growers.

"In return for this commitment, not only will consumers receive a weekly box of produce direct from the farm, they will also have opportunities to be more involved with the actual growing of that food and have direct access to the land from where that food comes."

The meeting will take place on Thursday, July 1, at 7.30pm in Minehead Methodist Hall in The Avenue.