Deeside goods to be promoted in new initiative
farmers and food producers will work closely with restaurants and shops
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An initiative to link farmers and food producers with catering establishments and shops in Deeside is to be launched next month.
The Royal Deeside and Cairngorms Destination Management Organisation (DMO) is behind the plan to be unveiled at a workshop at The Milton at Crathes on October 12.
Chairman Claire Bruce, of Glen Tanar Estate, near Aboyne, said the idea was to foster new relationships so that hotels, restaurants, shops and cafes were all selling local produce.
“We hope to develop a range of ideas at the workshop so we can get greater co-operation between those producing the food and eating establishments and shops. The ideal would be to build a high-quality food guild,” she added.
Mrs Bruce said visitors to Deeside expected to eat local produce. Her hope was that in encouraging improved links restaurateurs would not only increase their purchases of locally-produced foods, but also let their customers know by mentioning it on their menus.
She said food producers would benefit enormously from the increased profile.
She also touted the idea of a biannual food journal for the area and in the longer term a taste of Deeside festival where local produce is celebrated by the community.
She urged as many people as possible to attend the workshop, adding: “There are more than 50 hotels on Deeside and many more bed and breakfasts. We would like them all to be involved. There’s also no reason why retailers, like the Co-op, could not be selling more local produce on their shelves.
“There is huge enthusiasm for this, particularly from the food producers. It is very much in the interest of everyone to showcase what we produce and to build contacts between producers and those who could use the produce.”
Ken Howie, who runs the Deeside Activity Park and the Cairnton Aberdeen-Angus beef enterprise at Dess, near Aboyne, said while the idea was fantastic there were several practicalities to overcome beforehand.
The biggest would be in securing the continuity of local food supplies needed by catering establishments and in getting what were a diverse group of artisan food producers to work together.
The goals were laudable and Mr Howie said he had benefited from beef supply link he had with the Loch Kinnord Hotel at Dinnet.
It mentioned him as a supplier on the menu and that resulted in many people visiting his farm and buying his beef.
He said if the problems could be overcome then the idea would be of considerable benefit to everyone.
“The DMO has to be the catalyst to make this happen,” he added.
More information from the DMO on 013397 55467.
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