Local Produce near Selsey

Fresh food from the peninsula and the Sussex coast

Selsey's position at the tip of the Manhood Peninsula gives it access to two distinct sources of local produce: the sea and the agricultural land of the peninsula. The combination makes for a larder that is richer and more varied than the town's modest size might suggest.

The sea provides the headline product. Selsey crab and lobster, landed at East Beach by the local fishing fleet, are the town's signature foods and are supplied to restaurants and fishmongers across Sussex and beyond. The brown crabs from the waters around Selsey Bill are prized for the quality of their meat, and the lobster season brings further demand. Other species are caught depending on conditions and season, including bass, mackerel and sole. The freshness of the catch, sometimes only hours from the sea to the plate, is the main advantage of buying locally.

The flat agricultural land of the Manhood Peninsula supports arable farming, with wheat, barley and vegetable crops grown on the fertile coastal plain. Market gardens and smallholdings in the area produce seasonal vegetables, salad crops and soft fruit. The mild climate of the south coast, moderated by the surrounding sea, extends the growing season slightly compared to inland areas. Farm shops in the wider Chichester district sell locally grown produce, Hampshire and Sussex cheeses, free-range eggs, preserves and baked goods.

Chichester Farmers' Market, held regularly in the city centre, brings together local producers selling meat, fish, vegetables, bread, cider, honey and other products. The market is within a short drive of Selsey and provides a good way to access a wider range of local produce in one visit. The Chichester area also has several farm shops and delicatessens that stock products from the surrounding countryside.

Selsey's own shops stock everyday groceries and some local products. The Co-op and smaller convenience stores provide the main grocery shopping for residents who do not want to drive to Chichester for a larger supermarket. The butcher on the High Street supplies locally sourced meat.

The combination of fresh seafood on the doorstep, productive farmland on the peninsula and access to the wider Sussex and Hampshire food network gives Selsey residents a genuinely good range of local produce, provided they are willing to seek it out.