| 19/11/07
 Farmers from around Scotland will be getting into the Christmas
              spirit over the coming weeks as they promote their quality Scottish
              food and drink around the country, arranging events and give-aways
            to help spread the positive messages about Scottish food and farming.  
             
             
             Jim McLaren, NFU Scotland President
 
 
 
                |  |  The NFU Scotland What’s on Your Plate? campaign, which has
              been running since June, is now focusing on Christmas and the quality
              Scottish produce that can grace our dinner plates over the festive
              season. Following a ‘12 Days of Christmas’ theme, the
              campaign will promote 12 of the great Scottish products which we
              traditionally eat or drink at Christmas time, from turkey to brussels
              sprouts, at 12 different events around the country. The campaign
              won’t be forgetting Santa Claus and Rudolph and will be promoting
            some of their favourite foods along the way too!  The events will provide an opportunity for people to sample some
              superb quality Scottish produce, chances to win hampers of produce
              in time for Christmas and, at some of the events, local farmers
              will be donating food and drink to charitable organisations.  The first event will be taking place at Tesco Riverside in Dundee
              on Friday 23 and Saturday 24 November from 8am until 6pm. Farmers
              from the area will be promoting the What’s on Your Plate?
              campaign and will be giving away free samples of oats, kindly donated
              by Quaker Oats in Cupar, to shoppers so that they can get a taste
              of how great porridge at Christmas could taste!  Jim McLaren, NFU Scotland President, said:  “Christmas is a time to eat, drink and be merry. The traditional
              Christmas Dinner has evolved into the meal it is today because
              all of the ingredients can be produced within our shores and many
              are in season during December.  “I believe that too often we forget that link and I am hoping
              that this campaign can help to reconnect people with the food they
              eat and get them thinking about the numerous benefits associated
              with buying locally produced food and drink.  “Scottish farmers have been planning Christmas all year,
              producing a great variety of the food that makes up a Christmas
              meal.  “Moreover, Scottish farming produce is deemed among the
              best anywhere and it is produced to some of the highest animal
              welfare and environmental standards in the world.  “As environmentalists have calculated that the average Christmas
              dinner has travelled a total distance of nearly 85,000 miles to
              your plate, why bother unnecessarily buying food from elsewhere,
              when the best in the world is available on your doorstep?  “I would encourage everyone to go along to their local event
              if they can and find out more about Scottish food and drink. If
              you can’t go along, just look out for the Saltire flag when
              you do your Christmas shopping and be safe in the knowledge that
              you are helping to safeguard Scotland’s rural communities
              as well as the environment, all the while eating superb quality
              food.”  Speaking about the Dundee event, Kate Scott, Regional Manager
              for NFUS East Central region, said;  “I am really excited about this event. It is such a great
              opportunity to promote a quality locally grown product, at the
              same time giving shoppers the chance to rediscover porridge oats
              which provide an ideal winter breakfast. Santa is known to be a
              fan of porridge and I’m sure that Rudolph is partial to some
              oats too!  “I should like to thank Quaker for their very kind donation
              and I should like to encourage everyone to back Scotland’s
              farmers when buying their Christmas food shopping this year. Please
              come along and visit us in Dundee and of course remember to buy
              Scottish!”  
			
			   What's
			  On Your Plate? - The Campaign for Scottish Food and Farming 
  Local Food Set to Go Mainstream 
  Calls for Ban on Brazilian Beef Now Even More Justified |