Farming leaders have launched appeals to festive food shoppers to buy Scottish this year.
Farm gate prices for lamb are buoyant but there is still no sign of a pre-Christmas boost in beef prices despite the expected increase in demand. NFU Scotland livestock committee chairman Charlie Adam has called on consumers to support local food producers.
“In these uncertain times, compounded by ongoing political turmoil, farmers and crofters need to see returns which provide their businesses with the financial security to invest and build resilience,” he said.
Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing has backed Aldi’s commitment to selling 100% Scottish beef, lamb and pork, and said the chain was sending a clear message to consumers that these products deliver on taste and quality.
Mr Ewing added: “As people start to stock up for the festive period I would encourage people to ‘shop Scotch’ and buy Scottish produced, world renowned and assured red meat.”
TV presenter Alan Titchmarsh, an ambassador for The Prince’s Countryside Fund, has urged the public to support British farming families this Christmas. In a short film he points out that winter can be one of the most difficult times of year for farmers.
He said: “It is vital that we ensure our rural communities and family farms have a secure future, and The Prince’s Countryside Fund works tirelessly to do exactly that, helping to lift the weight off the shoulders of farmers across the UK.”
nnicolson@thecourier.co.uk
