The Islands’ only commercial mushroom farm has decided to dub October; ‘Manx Mushroom Month’. Greeba Farm Ltd., based in Crosby, chose October as naturally it’s is a key season for mushrooms. The farm grows a wide range of mushrooms all year round in carefully climate controlled growing rooms. To celebrate Manx Mushroom Month Greeba Farm is holding a series of special events and is working together with a number of key customers to bring the delights of Manx mushrooms to one and all. Many of the top local restaurants and caterers choose Manx mushrooms because of their superb flavour and freshness. And now they’re getting even more creative with one of our most versatile and nutritious foods – mushrooms. Those putting that special effort in to celebrate the first Greeba Farm Manx Mushroom Month this October include: In Ramsey, The Spice of India will feature Greeba mushroom dishes each weekend in October and will have a big focus on mushrooms at its popular end of the month vegetarian evening (Thursday 27th October) where Kathy Irwin of Greeba Farm will cook with restaurants’ chefs. Milntown restaurant will also be putting mushroom specials on during the month. In Douglas L’experience is including mushroom specials on its menus throughout October, for details follow them on Facebook. Others in Douglas creating Manx mushroom specials are Fourteen North, The Welbeck Hotel, McFarlane’s, The Courthouse Restaurant, Tanroagan and Portofino, on North Quay. The Italian Job, another local restaurant that uses Greeba Farm’s mushrooms in many of its dishes, will emphasise its use of the quality local ingredient in its culinary repertoire with a new menu cover and even more specials. Guests and visitors to the Isle of Man Business School will also be able to enjoy a special Manx mushroom dish each Wednesday throughout October. In the South, The Abbey Restaurant in Ballasalla will be keeping it simple and showing how choosing quality ingredients really shine through with their heart-warming lunch of Greeba mushrooms on toast. Meanwhile our local hospital and school dinners are also joining in with Noble’s Hospital exploring opportunities to cook up Manx mushroom treats for both staff and patients during October and the Isle of Man Schools dinner service is working with Greeba Farm to see how they can make the most of mushrooms on school menus and encourage children to eat them as part of a healthy diet. Both organisations are great supporters of local producers and committed to using quality local ingredients. Shoprite and Robinson’s have been very supportive working with Greeba Farm and hope to be able to do some in store tastings during the month. The surprise hit at the recent Isle of Man Food and Drink Festival, Manx Mushroom Dairy ice cream produced by Davison’s is to be churned out in bigger volumes to meet popular demand. Ian Davison will be dishing up this delectable delight at his local parlours. Watch local restaurants menus as several have expressed an interest in the ice cream. Finally, and keeping it within farming, the wonderful Stay on a Manx Farm bed and breakfasts will continue to serve up Manx mushrooms to their guests highlighting their support for local produce. Other events for the months include an exclusive tour of Greeba Farm, which is fully booked and a forthcoming chef event, by special invitation only, will also to be held at the farm. Hundreds of visitors to the Isle of Man Food and Drinks Festival signed up for the Manx Mushroom Recipe Club and will soon receive guest recipes. To become a member of the club, receiving regular recipe updates e-mail: admin@greebafarm.co.im Regular news and updates will also be posted on the farm’s website www.greebafarm.co.im ENDS