TOP UK AWARD FOR SKYE AND LOCHALSH LOCAL FOOD INITIATIVE
| TOP UK AWARD FOR SKYE AND LOCHALSH LOCAL FOOD INITIATIVE | |
| 14 November 2001 Producer-led Skye and Lochalsh Food Link Van has been awarded the ‘Best New Local Food Initiative’ at today’s prestigious Organic Food Awards in London, sponsored by YOU magazine and the Soil Association. Selected from over a hundred entrants UK wide, the initiative delivers a range of the finest, freshest locally produced food from one of the cleanest environments in Europe, linking producers and consumers to the advantage of all concerned. Set up at a Skye and Lochalsh Food Futures event in March 2000, thanks to a young man with time on his hands and a brand new van - this local food distribution van was initially awarded £1000 from the Scottish Community Diet project to provide a local food distribution service. It turned out to be a success from the word go. Food producers have been able to take orders that they would otherwise have been unable to fulfil, and have increased sales to localities in Skye and Lochalsh that had so far been outwith their immediate delivery area. Having secured further funding from Skye and Lochalsh Enterprise, a percentage of the value of the transported produce now secures its long-term viability. This has already helped keep an increased proportion of produce in the local economy. The Hagmanns of Glendale Salads said, “It’s brilliant. We are no longer confined. to delivering in our area - we now supply the whole of Skye & Lochalsh with our organic salads, herbs, veg and fruit. We feel being able to support all restaurants here is particularly important for us in this year’s difficult tourist season.” One of the van’s new customers is Shirley Spear of the renowned Three Chimneys Restaurant. “Now that we’ve got the Local Food Link van, I’ve been able to put cheese from the West Highland Dairy back on our menu. We’ve always specialised in Scottish cheeses and it’s particularly pleasing to include excellent local cheese such as Highland Blue, and to use their delicious crème fraiche on our menus. The Local Food Link has made a real difference.” While the importance of the export market to the local economy should not be under-estimated, a local distribution system cuts down on food miles, improves the quality and variety of food available on the local market and makes fresh, nutritious food more readily available to local consumers as well as visitors. Carole Inglis, Food and Drink Development Manager, Skye and Lochalsh Enterprise said, “The quality of Skye and Lochalsh produce is second to none, and the more people realise the advantages of buying and eating local food, the greater benefits there will be to the local economy. Thanks to the enthusiasm and hard work of the Local Food Link Group, we are already seeing the emergence of a strong, sustainable food economy in Skye and Lochalsh and it is especially rewarding to see such commitment being recognised in this prestigious national award”. The small group running the Food Link scheme is understandably proud of their achievement: “To think that this small community has scooped the award of the internationally well-known Soil Association against stiff competition from entrants with far more resources than we have - that shows what a strong community spirit can achieve. We will certainly go on from here and we are confident that we will encourage even more people to switch to local produce. It’s good for them, good for the local economy and good for the environment. And the Food Link scheme was not imposed on us by some remote agency – with help from SALE we did it for ourselves” Contacts:
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