Online advice to make most of seasonal and local produce

Guide to assist in promotion of Scots larder

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A new guide to help more visitor attractions and events planners showcase the very best of Scotland’s larder was unveiled yesterday in Inverness.

A Taste for Events offers simple and expert advice to anyone organising an event in Scotland. It provides contacts for local food groups, farmers’ markets, professional caterers, certification schemes – a comprehensive database of local producers and suppliers.

The guide aims to build on the momentum created by the Scottish Government’s national food and drink policy, Recipe for Success, and the Homecoming celebrations, which have both helped increase awareness of Scottish produce. Last week ministers announced that a year focusing on Scotland’s food and drink will be launched in 2010, delivering a major boost to the tourism and food sectors and building on the Homecoming legacy.

Speaking at the Scottish Tourism Forum’s seminar in Inverness, Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead said: “Each year over 15million visitors come to Scotland, spending over £4billion, and almost a fifth of that is spent on food and drink. We know that visitors are willing to pay a premium for food and drink with a local provenance. This presents a major opportunity for Scottish tourism and food businesses.

“This new online guide will help events organisers make the most of our wonderful produce. Whether you are planning a major event or something smaller in scale, there is now an abundance of expert advice and list of contacts in the one place to ensure you can source the finest fresh, seasonal and local produce. By working together we can build on Scotland’s fantastic food revolution.”