Farm shops supplying the essentials we're all finding hard to get - what is their secret?

For most businesses coronavirus and lockdown have created financial crisis, but many farm shops have never been so busy.

Their regular customers are buying more than ever and they have a vast new market - the thousands of customers who've turned away from struggling supermarkets to shop local.

  • Watch John Ryall's report here:

Before coronavirus, most farm shops counted their customers by the dozen.

They're a niche businesses, catering for people prepared to pay more for local produce.

Not any more.

After two weeks of long queues and short stock at the supermarkets, businesses like Frankie's are doing a roaring trade, working flat out to supply Staplehurst and villages across Kent.

  • Frankie Franke- farm shop owner

Frankie's is also delivering to customers in self-isolation.

Roebridge Farm Shop at Ringwood, Hampshire Credit: ITV Meridian

Roebridge Farm Shop at Ringwood in Hampshire is succeeding where so many supermarkets are struggling- online.

  • David Burgess- farm shop owner

No supermarket queues at Princes Risborough in Buckinghamshire, where the town council has joined forces with local shops to deliver food to potentially all local residents.

  • Councillor Matthew Walsh- Mayor, Princes Risborough

The booming trade at farm shops like this one near Canterbury in Kent gives other local businesses a badly needed boost in these challenging times.

Booming trade at this farm shops near Canterbury Credit: ITV Meridian

  • Deborah Woodward- shop manager

We may be heading for economic crisis, but you wouldn't know it here.

Coronavirus is giving people an appetite for shopping local and giving farm shops a taste of the big time.