13 June 2007, 20:24 PM

  • NFU Scotland has launched a high profile, national campaign to encourage people to choose Scottish food and drink.

The food and farming promotion will highlight not only the quality of Scottish food and drink, but the environmental, animal welfare, health and social benefits of buying Scottish.

The new campaign, entitled “What’s on your Plate?” encourages people to think about their food and drink choices and the positive impact they can have on the nation. It was launched in a field at the Norton House Hotel, Ingliston, Edinburgh, with the NFU Scotland Board of Directors, comprising farmers from across the country, dining on a meal of quality Scottish food in their kilts and wellies (see Notes for access to images).

The campaign, led by farmers from across Scotland, will involve a range of events from school visits to farms, to information campaigns outside supermarkets and the Scottish Parliament and even barbecue events to show off local produce. 

Jim McLaren, NFUS president, said, “In Scotland, we are generally fortunate enough to be able to take food for granted. But how many of us ever actually think about where the food and drink we are eating has come from and the impact of our choices? By buying Scottish food, we don’t just invest in quality, we help safeguard our unique habitats and wildlife, tackle the increasing problem of food miles and underpin our rural communities and tens of thousands of jobs.

“The demand for local, Scottish food is already high, but our campaign will ask more people to think about their food choices and to buy Scottish.  Hopefully it was also help educate people on the origin of their meals and the efforts that go into producing the ingredients. Scotland needs its farmers, and those farmers need support from the most important people within the food supply chain – consumers.”

He added that small things can make a real difference. “I very much hope that people the length and breadth of the country embrace this campaign and help us to ensure that the quality food and drink, for which Scotland is famous, continues to grace the dinner plates of the nation. Please sign the pledge on the website and show your support for Scottish food and farming.”

For more information, visit www.whatsonyourplate.co.uk