NFU Scotland (the National Farmers’ Union Scotland) is continuing to encourage people to buy local, Scottish food and drink for their festive feasting over Christmas, as Christmas Day looms just over two weeks away.

© www.farm-images.co.uk

As part of its What’s On Your Plate? campaign for food and farming, the Union is offering suggestions as to what fantastic Scottish food people can prepare for their Christmas meals and is giving ideas as to where people can buy the ingredients locally.

Scottish food and drink tastes fantastic and can be traced all the way from farm gate to dinner plate. As well as growing excellent crops and rearing quality animals, Scottish farmers maintain the countryside on which our tourism industry depends, they help to maintain rural communities and they offer a local choice which helps to fight ‘food miles’ and climate change. Just as importantly, they provide fresh, healthy food and drink which helps people to eat a balanced diet.

In the second instalment of local food news releases, we are covering main courses:

• Everybody loves a traditional turkey, or even a goose, and almost all farm shops will either breed their own or be able to sell you quality birds from nearby. Visit www.whatsonyourplate.co.uk and click on Online Directory to find a farm shop near you.
• Many people choose beef at Christmas time. Visit your local butcher who will be able to tell you exactly where your Christmas roast has come from. For a list of butchers that sell quality Scotch Beef, visit www.scotchbutchersclub.org
• Many of the local farmers’ markets have special pre-Christmas events so why not go along and stock up. Visit the Online Directory on www.whatsonyourplate.co.uk for a list.
• No Christmas dinner would be complete without roast potatoes or brussels sprouts. Local farm shops and many farmers’ markets stock local potatoes and vegetables. If shopping elsewhere, look for a Scottish label.

Anna Davies, NFU Scotland Public Relations Manager, said:

“Our primary reason for buying local, Scottish food and drink should be because it tastes so fantastic! However, there are also a number of other benefits that farming and food production deliver. Farmers help to protect and maintain the countryside and wildlife and what they produce is fresh, healthy and safe.

“With food security becoming a great concern, Scotland must have the ability to produce its own food and the only way we can do that is if we help our farmers to stay in business. So please support them – and benefit your shopping basket at the same time!

“Many things, especially fresh locally grown vegetables, are cheaper to buy in farm shops or at farmers’ markets than in the supermarkets, which is extremely encouraging. So why not pay a visit to your local butcher or farm shop and sample the superb things they have on offer?

The following items are in season in Scotland in December and will complement any meal: Beetroot Brussels sprouts Cabbage Carrots Chicory Leeks Mushrooms Onions Parsnips Potatoes Squash Turnips Apples Pears Beef Lamb Pork Chicken Turkey Partridge Duck Pheasant Hare Guinea Fowl Red Deer Rabbit Farmed Venison Milk Eggs Oats and other grains

Farmers Union in Brussels for Cap Talks with Commissioner
Farmers Union Calls for Regulatory Sea Change
Fair Trade Forum and Farming Union Join Forces