Freda's Fruit, Veg and Whole-foods store opens in Maryport town centre

Freda's Fruit, Veg and Whole-foods store has opened on Crosby Street in the town, gaining its name from owner Jay Kirby's grandmother Freda.

The shop opened on Tuesday with a small queue of locals eager to take a look at the products on offer and the first sale of a Cumberland Rum Butter kicking off the business's trading.

The idea sprang from a Maryport Business Group meeting which identified a gap in the market for a fruit and veg store, with Jay, who also owns the popular Redby Coffee shop on Senhouse Street, deciding to give it a go.

Some of the fruit and veg on offer in the store. (Image: Supplied)

Owner Jay, 39, said: "As Maryport tries to improve on the town centre shopping and trade, we are very much in touch with the Maryport Business Group and at the last meeting they said a poll had been taken.

"The three businesses that had been asked for from the locals of Maryport was a shoe shop, a fruit and veg shop, and a bakery.

"So we said that we would be able to look at a fruit and veg shop because we own a café and have a few contacts... it took a while but we have managed to roll it out."

There are also many herbs and spices available in the shop. (Image: Supplied)

The fruit and veg store is looking at primarily stocking local produce, selling local Mawbray potatoes, as well as eggs from Aspatria and all of the fruits and jams from Wild and Fruitful - a business which makes their preserves in Maryport.

Jay said: "The main thing we have had positive feedback about is actually people saying 'Can you buy just a carrot?' and that sounds so simple, but for someone who is older and just wants a carrot, a potato and an onion to make their tea, with a bit of meat, veg and mash - that's been one the key things that you can't get necessarily all of the time in a supermarket."

Jay said that the business will look at expanding their store in the future should the current premises work out well.