£95k to support local produce from regional food fund
Local food and drink initiatives are toasting their success this New Year after being awarded grants totalling £95,700 from the second round of the Regional Food Fund.
The funding has been awarded to 21 projects across the country ranging from smaller-scale, localised programmes to larger collaborative initiatives.
Successful projects in this round include Aberdeen’s Thistle Street Market, a harvest Food Festival in Castle Douglas, and an Ethical Farming Conference set to take place in Dumfries and Galloway.
Welcoming the announcement, Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing said:
“The food and drink produced here is amongst the best in the world and there is a huge appetite for it – both domestically and abroad. The Regional Food Fund is an initiative to help increase access to that fresh, seasonal, and nutritious food and drink. By providing some financial assistance required to allow these fantastic projects to thrive we are making the best of Scotland’s produce, and further adding to our credentials as a leading food tourism destination.
“And I hope that the success of these projects in applying for funding will encourage others to do the same.”
| Applicant Name | Grant Awarded (£) |
| Beer from Perthshire Larder | 5000 |
| Castle Douglas Harvest Food Festival | 5000 |
| Celebrating Seasonal Fife | 5000 |
| Collaborative bee farming, education and honey food tastings | 5000 |
| Cook Ayrshire | 5000 |
| Eaglesham Beer Festival 2019 | 2500 |
| Ethical Farming Conference | 5000 |
| First Friday Producers Market | 2624 |
| Food from Argyll /AITC Website Project | 2000 |
| Food from Fife Website | 5000 |
| Food School Scotland | 5000 |
| Halloween Harvest and more | 5000 |
| Lochaber Food | 5000 |
| North Ronaldsay Mutton – Scotland’s first Presidium | 5000 |
| Online Materials to support small food producers | 4076 |
| Skye Food Link Van + Taste Local Awards | 4500 |
| Streetfood Zone at the Stranraer Oyster Festival | 5000 |
| Sustainable Growing of Botanicals for Scottish Gin | 5000 |
| Taste of Grampian | 5000 |
| The Thistle Street Food Market | 5000 |
| Thrumster Game & Countryside Fair | 5000 |