Published: Wednesday, 2nd April, 2008 12:00
Here's some of the best in our county
By Bob Lovik
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Keith Brown with James Scobbie, of Rustic Trader, and Anne Thomson, of Ella Soft Drinks.
Pic by: Keith Brown MSP
THE Wee County’s MSP is getting behind the Government’s campaign to back locally-sourced foods by trying to raise awareness of all that Clackmannanshire has to offer.
Ochil MSP Keith Brown travelled around the county last week, visiting local farms, butchers and retailers in a bid to drum up support for their products.
Before Mr Brown set off, he told the Advertiser why he wanted to showcase local foods.
He said, “This is one way I can support the Government’s campaign to highlight Scottish food.
“Clackmannanshire produces a wide range of foods and products from Christmas turkeys to fruit juice and soap. I think people were much more aware of local products 40 years ago and they should be aware of the choices they have at the local level now.
“Clackmannanshire should support local producers because if you don’t use, you’ll lose it, as the saying goes. Buying local cuts down on air miles and supports the local economy – and those are just two of the benefits.”
Mr Brown’s trip around the county followed First Minister Alex Salmond’s pledge to eat only Scottish foods during the week leading up to Easter.
Favourite
A favourite drink of the First Minister that featured on his all-Scottish menu was a locally produced fruit juice.
Bouvrage is made by the Alloa-based Ella Drinks Ltd, and Mr Salmond is such a big fan of the raspberry and blaeberry drinks that he has included them on the menu for a reception he is hosting at the European Seafood Exposition in Brussels later this month.
The company’s raspberry juices use berries from Central Scotland.
Ella Drinks managing director Anne Thomson told the Advertiser how important she thinks it is that people in Clackmannanshire support local products.
She said, “Supermarkets have destroyed our local food culture. There are wonderful foods, fruits and vegetables right here that haven’t come from thousands of air miles away.”
Anne explained that while people were becoming more aware of locally-sourced goods, awareness wasn’t necessarily getting them away from supermarkets that offer little in the way of Scottish produce.
She added, “I think there is a huge chasm between what people say and what they do. I do think interest is growing in locally produced goods but it is disconcerting when people then go to the supermarket to buy all their food. You can get everything you need from local foods.”
One of Mr Brown’s stops was at Alloa’s Gartmornhill Farm, which specialises in free-range poultry including chicken, turkey, duck and guinea fowl. Owner Roger Lucey acknowledged that his products may cost more than supermarket poultry but insisted that the extra cost was worth it.
He told the Advertiser, “Food is basically just to keep you going and if it tastes good, that’s an advantage. Nothing comes close to free-range poultry for taste.
“The meat is leaner and the flavour is more developed. It also means that we don’t need to add artificial ingredients. Compare that with some of the produce available in today’s supermarkets and there is no contest.”
Organic goods
Many of the organic goods produced in Clackmannanshire, such as poultry, lamb and beef, can be purchased at area butchers and farm shops.
Locally-sourced products, however, don’t end with farm-reared meats.
James Scobbie co-owns Rustic Trader on Mill Street in Alloa and sells Clackmannanshire-made products, including soaps made in Tillicoultry by the Ochil Soap Company, fused-glass jewellery, ales made in Alloa from malt and heather flowers, and Anne Thomson’s Bouvrage berry drinks.
James said that people are surprised when they find out what is produced in Clackmannanshire but that the awareness of local products was still in need of a boost.
He said, “The soaps are very popular here and I think it interests people to know that soap is made in Tillicoultry.
“The ales are another local product that sell well.
“I think the challenge is making people aware of locally produced goods. I think if they know what’s out there, they will support it.”
Mr Brown also visited the Dollarbank Farm and Devlin Butchers in Dollar, the Meadowend Farm in Clackmannan and the Coffee Bothy in Blairlogie, which all sell or produce Clackmannanshire products.
For information on how to buy local visit www.scottishfarmersmarkets.co.uk and www.bigbarn.co.uk
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