Why Scots produce is the best around

No matter where you are in the world, when you think beef, you think Aberdeen Angus; and when you think of shortbread, smoked salmon, or venison… you know the best comes from Scotland.

These are just a few examples of Scottish products that have become synonymous with quality but they are a mere drop in the ocean. Chefs the world over covet Scottish ingredients, and with good reason.

Scottish producers grow 2,400 tonnes of raspberries and 4,600 tonnes of strawberries a year, and over a million tonnes of potatoes. 900 million eggs are produced annually in Scotland, as well as 1,300 million litres of milk – and there are more than two dozen cheesemakers across the country, ranging from the industrial cheddar creameries to much smaller-scale producers.

It will surprise no one to learn that beef is now the single most important sector of Scottish agriculture, worth around £400 million a year. This is more than fruit, dairy and poultry combined.

And Scottish crafts are by no means left out of this equation. Scotland has a proud history of crafting and marking, and its craftsmen command a welldeserved reputation on the international stage.

From traditional techniques to cutting-edge technologies, and with materials as diverse as ceramics, glass, metalwork, textiles, basketry, furniture and jewellery, Scotland’s reputation for exceptional crafting is richly deserved.