By Mark Davies BBC News Online political reporter in Blackpool

Mr Duncan Smith selects his chutney

Admittedly there were no wild impulse purchases - a jar of chutney and some grapefruit marmalade - but with wife Betsy alongside him, it at least provided a change of scene from cocktail parties and conference speeches.

Surrounded by a ruck of photographers, the Tory leader was visiting the second Conservative Party Farmers Market - the event began last year in Bournemouth.

The bad weather held off - just, the star of the dog show behaved impeccably and Mr Duncan Smith was also kept well away from a man advertising himself as "Militant Elvis" and handing out poems.

Wide berth at the dog show

The event was organised by the Conservative Rural Action Group, and featured rescued owls and the Royal Pigeon Racing Association as well as a range of food stalls backed by the "Made in Lancashire" group.

The Tory leader stopped to tell the Union of Country sports workers that "we're with you - you know that".

Mrs Atkinson's chutney won approval

And then he and Betsy were given a demonstration of the skills of a hunting dog, which Mr Duncan Smith was warned sometimes got a bit aggressive around unfamiliar humans.

Wisely, the Tory leader gave the animal a wide berth.

The couple skipped the Corio Raptor Care and Rehabilitation stand and their rescued owls Timone, Boo, Pikachu and Kibbi, and kestrel Simba.

Tory representatives meet Boo the Eurasian eagle owl

Instead, they moved on to survey the range of chutneys offered by Jan Atkinson from J&J Produce.

"I love chutney," said Mr Duncan Smith. "We shall take some chutney."

And take some chutney he did, selecting some of Mrs Atkinson's Farmers Chutney.

Next stop, the stall of John Myerscough of M&H Farm Eggs.

Mr Myerscough: Betsy's choice held sway

"He bought some grapefruit marmalade," said Mr Myerscough. "It was that or honey. He seemed to want honey, but his wife said 'but you like grapefruit marmalade don't you?' So they bought that instead."

With that there was a quick hello for the jazz band, a couple of autographs and then back to more familiar territory across the road.