Scottish salmon is the best of British
SCOTTISH salmon was represented in the best of British food at a prestigious media breakfast last month.
Held at London’s Good Housekeeping Institute, the occasion launched the ‘Year of British Food’, a series of events hosted by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to increase public awareness of Scottish salmon’s protected geographical indication (PGI) and other products with protected food names.
A special menu was devised by Cooke Aquaculture Scotland to showcase Scottish salmon, alongside many other quality foods for guests including Environment Secretary Elizabeth Truss, who opened the event.
Representing the industry at the event, Scott Landsburgh, chief executive of the Scottish Salmon Producers’ Organisation, said: ‘The salmon industry was delighted to join the best of British food producers at this high profile launch.
‘The popularity of Scottish salmon has grown significantly over the past few years, and I’m proud to say it has been Scotland’s number one food export for some time now, with an export value of £386 million in 2015.
‘It was voted ‘best farmed salmon in the world’ for a second consecutive time in 2014.
‘These are real accolades for Scotland. It’s putting Scottish food and its producers firmly on the international map – and, more importantly, it recognises the hard work and dedication of the 2,500 individuals who work for the salmon farming industry in Scotland.’
Scottish salmon received protected geographical indication in 2004. The EU awards PGI to a product which has a reputation, characteristics or qualities that are a result of the area with which it is associated