Born in 1946 and brought up in Cupar, Fife, I was educated at the local school - 
Local SNP Member of the Scottish Parliament Stewart Stevenson has praised the high quality food producers of Banff and Buchan while also going on condemn the practices of the big supermarkets. The MSP was speaking following a Parliamentary debate on local food production. Mr Stevenson also went on to highlighted the need for Scotland to change its diet to that of a healthier balanced one.
Speaking during the debate, Mr Stevenson also highlighted the Welsh Assembly Government's stated procurement policy of giving an advantage to local producers in respect of the time constraints that are involved in harvesting local food produce and asked that the Scottish Government take similar action.
Commenting, Mr Stevenson said:
“Banff & Buchan is home to some of the very best of Scottish produce from the harvest of the sea to the produce of the rich Buchan land and is synonymous with quality.
“Scottish Food Fortnight is all about increasing awareness that local Scottish food is of the highest quality and meets rigorous safety standards. Buying locally produced food also helps reduce ‘food miles’, strengthens local food networks and helping create a spin-off for farm shops, rural producers and processors and independent shops.
“With an abundance of local bakeries, quality butchers who can trace their meat back to the farmer and fish and seafood shops right on our doorsteps, we really need to make the most of them and give our tastebuds and our families a treat by getting into the habit of getting out of the supermarkets and into the small independent retailers where quality is the watchword.
“I’m very excited by the possibilities that events like Scottish Food Fortnight opens up for local producers and I’m proud to be playing my part in promoting it.”
Categories [Environment and Rural Development] [Enterprise and Lifelong Learning]
