News: Regional Food Fund awards grants

£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.”