Press release -
Berry good news for Year of Food and Drink
Scotland's Berry Trail launched today, celebrating and promoting more than 33 berry farmers throughout the country, during their short but sweet growing season.
The trail, launched with David and Sarah Stephen of Barra Berries, Oldmeldrum, starts off the Year of Food & Drink's monthly theme for July of Summer Fruits & Berries, and the accompanying leaflet will be available at VisitScotland Information Centres and other relevant outlets, as well as online at www.thinklocalscotland.co.uk.
From the traditional sweetness of strawberries and raspberries to the more tart blackcurrants and redcurrants, Scotland's berry growers have a reputation for producing the tastiest seasonal fruits around. From Scotland's most northerly blueberries in Aberdeenshire to new 'superfood' aronia in Angus, these seasonal berries provide an array of health benefits, as well as being a delicious addition to any meal. So, whether you want to buy your berries direct from the farmer, pick your own, or sit down and have a cup of tea with a fresh punnet, Scotland's Berry Trail will point you in the right direction.
Scotland's Food Secretary Richard Lochhead said:
"Scottish berries are nutritious and tasty with health-giving properties. During Scotland's Year of Food and Drink the Scottish Government is working closely with industry to continue to develop new and exciting initiatives such as today's newly launched Berry Trail. The Community Food Fund support for this project is part of a £1.2 million initiative which has now given almost £750,000 to 109 projects across Scotland.
"This project is a shining example of greater innovation and deeper collaboration within our booming Food and Drink sector. I want us all to make the most of the abundance of fresh, tasty, healthy ingredients that are produced right here on our doorstep. As we move towards becoming a Good Food Nation, my vision is by 2025, Scotland will also be widely recognised as the best place in the world for food and drink companies to do business."
Sarah Stephen, of Barra Berries said:"I believe Scotland grows the best soft fruit in the world. Every producer I know is passionate about ensuring their fruit is delicious and top quality. I would encourage everyone to get on the berry trail, explore and support what can often be right on their doorstep. "
Patrick Hughes, Project Lead of Think Local said:"Scotland's Berry Trail has been launched with support from the Community Food Fund, and it is the perfect example of Scottish producers coming together to promote their sector to both locals and visitors alike. It is a fantastic way to celebrate Scotland's seasonal larder."
Mike Cantlay OBE, VisitScotland Chairman, said: “
“Food trails are a fantastic way for visitors to embark on their own culinary adventures and berries are one of the sweetest signs that the Scottish summer is well and truly here. We have a world-class natural larder right here on our doorstep in Scotland, and this delicious new Berry Trail provides the perfect opportunity to go out and enjoy it especially in this, the Year of Food and Drink 2015.”
Topics
- Tourism
Categories
- year of food and drink
Regions
- Scotland
Notes to Editors
- Scotland's Berry Trail is launched to coincide with Year of Food & Drink 2015, with July being the month of Summer Berries & Fruits
- Scotland's Berry Trail was supported by the Community Food Fund and Think Local.
Think Local
- Think Local is a three-year, Scottish Government funded project, which will help to develop a commercial and sustainable local food & drink sector in Scotland, on a regional basis.
- Think Local is being delivered by SRUC, Scotland's Rural College, the Scottish Agricultural Organisation Society and Scottish Food Quality Certification, and includes collaboration with Scotland Food and Drink, the Scottish Association of Farmers Markets, and the National Farmers' Retail & Markets Association.
- The Think Local remit includes developing new local food networks, expanding Scottish Food and Drink Fortnight, creating signature food events for Homecoming Scotland, and providing new support for farmer’s markets.
- Funding for the operations of Think Local is supported by the Scottish Government.
- www.thinklocalscotland.co.uk
- @ThinkLocalScot
Community Food Fund
- The Community Food Fund is financed by The Scottish Government and has been created to promote local food and drink.
- The £1.5 million Community Food Fund will be delivered over three years. The Community Food Fund will be available to:
- Support development of local food networks
- Support communities to run local food events
- Target specifically communities attempting to tackle deprivation
- Deliver training and development
- Develop farmer’s markets and farm retail opportunities
- In relation to Scotland's National Food and Drink Policy, the Community Food Fund will focus on two main outcomes:
- Supporting development of food trails and networks
- Establish local food and drink event, including farmers' markets, that celebrate and promote food and drink throughout the year
- All projects must show a benefit to local food and drink producers.
VisitScotland
- Follow us on twitter: @visitscotnews
- VisitScotland is Scotland’s national tourism organisation. Its core purpose is to maximise the economic benefit of tourism to Scotland.
- The organisation’s core objective is to contribute to the Tourism 2020 Strategy ambition of growing tourism revenues by £1 billion by 2020.
- This will be supported by seven overarching strategies:
- Marketing: we will market Scotland and its outstanding assets to visitors from all parts of the world, including the promotion of Scotland to people living in Scotland to visit different parts of the country
- Events: we will support the national events strategy and its delivery, and sustain, develop and promote Scotland’s international profile as one of the world’s foremost events destinations
- Internationalisation and International Engagement: we will utilise all our platforms to enable Scottish-based tourism businesses to better understand international opportunities and market to a global audience and we will work within One Scotland Partnerships to optimise the potential of Scotland’s Diaspora and our strategic partners at regional, European and global levels
- Customer Experience: we will provide information and inspiration to visitors both locally and globally via their preferred medium of choice
- Quality and Sustainability: we will provide support and advice to businesses, with the goal of improving the quality and sustainability of the tourism sector in Scotland. We will provide quality assurance to visitors through our Quality Schemes
- Inclusive Tourism: we will strive to make tourism in Scotland inclusive and available to all
- Working in Partnership: we will listen to and work with the industry, partners and communities to shape our offering and support
- VisitScotland works together with tourism businesses to make tourism a success for everyone and ensure the industry continues to grow.
- The organisation employs 700 people and has offices and VisitScotland Information Centres across Scotland.
- According to a recent Deloitte study, the tourism economy supports 270,000 jobs in Scotland in 20,000 diverse businesses. The same study calculates that the tourism economy contributes £11 billion annually (direct and indirect impact, including day visits) and supports around 10 per cent of employment in Scotland. Almost 16 million tourists take overnight trips to Scotland.
- For VisitScotland’s press releases go to http://www.visitscotland.org/media_centre.aspx, tourism statistics and frequently asked questions go to http://www.visitscotland.org/
- Where possible, a Gaelic speaker will be made available for broadcast interviews on request (Far an tèid iarraidh, agus far am bheil sin nar comas, bruidhinnidh neach le Gàidhlig aig agallamh)
- For holiday information on Scotland go to www.visitscotland.com
- For information about business tourism in Scotland go to www.conventionscotland.com
Year of Food and Drink 2015
- 2015 is the Year of Food and Drink, a celebration of Scotland’s natural larder and the role that food and drink plays in shaping our economic success.
- Scotland generates over £2.5m per day through food and drink tourism.
- A series of themed months will create an appetite for key areas of Scotland’s food and drink industries – from seafood and whisky to berries and high-quality meat
- For more information, visit www.visitscotland.com/tastescotland
