Food and Drink Fortnight to show off Scotland’s finest produce

Scotland’s ‘food heroes’ are to be celebrated in a two-week nationwide event next month.

Scottish Food & Drink Fortnight will run from September 3 to 18 after a hiatus in 2015 when the sector was the subject of VisitScotland’s themed years programme.

The focus of this year’s celebration is Scotland’s primary producers – the so-called food heroes – including farmers and fishermen who form the backbone of the sector.

Scottish Food & Drink said they were being highlighted as they were integral to the continued success of a sector worth£14.3bn to the economy.

In total, 75% of Scotland’s land mass is under agricultural production, with 65,000 people directly employed.

The Scottish seafood industry employs 5,000 fishermen.

Chief project manager Fiona Richmond said: “With more than 200 events across the country, I urge everyone to get behind the fortnight.

“Supporters and participants include supermarkets, independent retailers, farm shops, visitor attractions, food festivals and restaurants so it’s easy to sample produce and learn more about our Scottish food and drink heroes.”

Picture: Scotland Food & Drink. A selection of Scottish grown herbs and vegetables.