Projects awarded funding to support local food and drink

Projects and businesses across the country have been awarded funding from the Connect Local Regional Food Fund.

Twenty-one projects will share £95,550 from the fund to promote locally sourced food and drink. Projects include the Crail Food Festival, Lerwick fish market opening pop-up market and South Lanarkshire Food and Drink Week.

Rural Affairs Minister Mairi Gougeon announced the funding on a visit to I.J. Mellis Cheesemonger in Edinburgh where she met producers from Fine Cheesemakers of Scotland.

The group has been awarded £3,450 for a range of projects, including ways to promote cheese as a pairing to whisky at distillery visitor centres and in restaurants.

Ms Gougeon said:

"I have been hugely impressed by the standard and range of food and drink initiatives across Scotland.

"Innovative projects like these not only help local economies grow, they also promote the importance of locally produced food and drink and the environmental benefits of sourcing produce close to home.

"This fund helps collaborative groups such as Fine Cheesemakers of Scotland create new opportunities for small businesses and producers and promotes Scotland’s world-leading food and drink sector."

Fine Cheesemakers of Scotland chair Jane Stewart said:

"We are delighted to be a recipient of the Regional Food Fund Award. One of our objectives is to collaborate to raise awareness of the diverse range of artisan cheeses made across Scotland and this funding allows us to increase our marketing activity.

"We are proud to be producing award-winning cheeses and excited about targeting different sectors so more people have the opportunity to enjoy our wonderful cheeses, which are part of the diverse selection of food and drink Scotland has to offer the world."

The Connect Local Regional Food Fund is a grant to support growth in Scotland's regional food and drink sector. Delivered by Connect Local and supported by the Scottish Government, applicants can apply for grants up to £5,000.

Since 2018, including this round, the fund has awarded £355,327 to 78 innovative projects.

Projects awarded funding in this round

Find out more about the Connect Local Regional Food Fund.