NFUS TO FOCUS ON FARMERS IN FESTIVE FARE CAMPAIGN

NFU Scotland is launching its festive food campaign, highlighting the contribution that Scotland’s farmers will make to Scotland’s fantastic food and drink industry this Christmas.

Based on the 12 days of Christmas, the campaign will begin on Tuesday, December 1 and feature the 12 Scottish ‘foods’ that will help make this year’s festivities extra special. Details of the campaign, and some special festive recipes, can be found on NFU Scotland’s What’s On Your Plate website.

We will feature those striving to produce the very best in beef, lamb and pork; those growing Scotland’s cereals, potatoes, soft fruit and root vegetables, our poultry keepers producing eggs and poultrymeat; those milking the nation’s cows – even those dedicated to producing the humble Brussels Sprout.

Over the course of the next few weeks, we will show the innovation taking place on Scottish farms, the fantastic variety of Scotch produce available and call on the Scottish public to keep up their tremendous support of the nation's farmers by making sure their Christmas fare is Scottish again this year.

NFU Scotland President, Jim McLaren said:

“Scottish food and farming get tremendous support from the great Scottish public. More and more, Scottish consumers are looking to fill their plates with fresh, local Scottish produce and this Christmas they will, once again, have a tremendous array of home produce to choose from.

“Those who want to support Scottish farmers and food producers have a wider range of ways in which they can seek out Scottish produce than ever before. More than 80 percent of Scottish produce passes through our supermarkets and many major retailers are working more than ever with local suppliers to ensure fresh, local produce makes its way onto their shelves.

“Local butchers, grocers and dairies are also tremendous supporters of local producers. When you add in the growing number of farm shops, farmers markets and door-to-door deliveries, the opportunities for farmers to meet their customers and deliver that extra special service have never been greater.

“Over the next 12 working days, our festive food campaign will include some of the food heroes and farming families that make Scottish food and farming so fantastic. We will highlight the innovation found on many farms, the contribution farmers make to the Scottish food chain and we will throw in their favourite recipes as well.

“Scotland's reputation as a land of food and drink is blossoming and we have ambitions to really grow our food industry. This campaign will show that farmers are at the very heart of that ambition.”