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Scotsman
2 days ago
- Business
- Scotsman
Celebrating the berry best of Scottish soft fruit
From juicy strawberries to plump blueberries, Scotland has a long and rich history of producing some of the world's most succulent soft fruit, with hundreds of farms up and down the country representing a growing and valuable part of our vibrant agricultural landscape. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... To champion and strengthen Scotland's nearly £198 million berry sector, Scotland Food & Drink, supported by the Scottish Government, is launching a brand-new celebration of Scottish-grown berries, encouraging shoppers, chefs, retailers and more to learn about the innovative industry, and add more delicious local fruit to their plates. Launched today, Friday, 20 June 2025, by Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity, Jim Fairlie, at an exclusive event at The Royal Highland Show, the four-month Berries of Scotland campaign will spread awareness of the heritage and impact of Scotland's berry sector, which comprises fruit farms of all shapes and sizes spread out from the Highlands all the way down the east coast. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad As well as showcasing tasty recipes and fascinating insights into the life of Scottish growers, Berries of Scotland will also bring together a curated map to show berry lovers where they can 'pick their own' at local farms around the country. Alexa King, age 10 and Erica King age 8 According to the Scottish Government's farm census, 1,000 hectares of farmland was dedicated to growing strawberries alone in 2024 – the equivalent of more than 1,200 football pitches – and Scotland has been the home of berry innovation for more than three quarters of a century, thanks to pioneering scientific developments at The James Hutton Institute. Experts from The James Hutton Institute – who attended the Berries of Scotland launch alongside growers from Castleton Farm and Angus Growers – have been breeding and trialing soft fruit for almost 75 years, including raspberries, blackberries, blackcurrants, blueberries, currants, gooseberries, tayberries, and honeyberries. Over the decades, Hutton has developed more than 40 soft fruit varieties, including berries that are resilient to climate change or require low input, reducing reliance on chemical pesticides which makes them more sustainable. With the berry category now worth £197.8m in the Scottish retail market, growing both in value (+14.8%) and volume (+9.8%) in the last 52 weeks to May 2025 versus the previous year, now is the perfect time to celebrate the scientists, farmers and businesses who contribute to Scotland's rich berry heritage. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Iain Baxter, Chief Executive at Scotland Food & Drink, said: 'Scotland's berries are some of the best available anywhere in the world and it's right that we celebrate and champion both them and the people who grow them. Alexa King, age 10 and Erica King age 8 'The Berries of Scotland campaign is about reconnecting consumers with our berry growers and encouraging consumers and buyers to choose Scottish. Research from The Knowledge Bank, our insights team, found that 42% of Scots would like to be able to buy Scottish strawberries and other soft fruits more often, so the demand is there. 'It's a tough environment for many of our Scottish farmers, including berry growers, and it's right that we all work together with the berry sector, as consumers and across our partnership – to support local growers and celebrate Scotland's world-class berries here at home but also in the UK market and key markets overseas.' Jim Fairlie, the Scottish Government's Minister for Agriculture and Connectivityattended the launch event at The Royal Highland Show, and said: 'As someone who grew up in Perthshire I spent all my school summer holidays picking berries, it was something we did as a family and our wider community. There was definitely that thing about us townies getting out into the country and seeing the food that was grown on our doorsteps make its way into our local shops and our houses. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'That connection between town and country is brilliantly captured by the berry field stories right across Scotland. The launch of this berry campaign is about that heritage, the stories, those connections and a celebration of the history and science that has given Scotland its richly deserved reputation for the superb quality of our berries and the folk who grow and pick them. (L to R) Amanda Brown - Programme Director of Scotland Food & Drink, Jim Fairlie MSP and Eve Morton. 'This celebration is about bringing all of that together so that we have pride in our world class soft fruit sector and demonstrate that by making sure Scottish berries are a staple in our everyday diet, which helps our local economies our natural environment and of course, our own health. 'In collaboration with the many growers, the Scottish Government will help make sure this message goes out far and wide. I want this celebration of Scottish berries launched today to be the beginning of even greater success for the sector and an annual festival we grow, we anticipate and we enjoy as a nation.'
STV News
3 days ago
- Business
- STV News
Royal Highland Show to welcome over 200,000 visitors to annual agricultural event
Scotland's largest outdoor agricultural event is set to open its gates to over 200,000 people in Edinburgh. Taking place in Ingliston, The Royal Highland Show will run over four days from Thursday until Sunday and will see the best of Scotland's rural sector, from farming to forestry to food and drink producers. Visitors will experience family entertainment as hundreds of businesses fill the grounds, selling everything from agricultural machinery, clothing and motor vehicles to Scottish food and drink products. We take a look at what to expect from this year's event. The event, which has been running for over 200 years, will welcome over 4,000 livestock, hundreds of trade exhibitors including those from Scotland's food and drink sector, and a huge variety of entertainment and music. Sheepshearing, pole-climbing, axe throwing, mini Land Rovers, pizza building, cheese tasting and sushi rolling are among the visitor attractions for this year. There are various livestock breeds from miniature Shetland ponies to donkeys, goats to Highland cows being shown in the arena on every day of the show. Scottish brewer Innis & Gunn will host a Sunday entertainment showcase from 11am at the Members' Village, while Elephant Sessions will perform at the Royal Highland Hoolie, joining The Whistlin' Donkeys, Manran, Trail West, Nati Dreddd and the Dangleberries. IAN GEORGESON via Supplied Sheep-shearing will be among the activities on show. The event is a chance for Scotland's most prominent brands to promote their goods and services on the world stage and to encourage further growth and investment. This includes exhibits from a number of UK Government-funded projects, including The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and Destination Tweed. Scottish secretary Ian Murray will host a reception with the Scotch Whisky Association to promote the national tipple. He said: 'The Royal Highland Show is a fantastic opportunity to bang the drum for our iconic produce and help turbo-charge sales of Scottish goods and services at home and abroad.' First Minister John Swinney is set to attend the Edinburgh event, and he has reaffirmed his government's commitment to sustainable food production amid 'significant change' in the farming sector, ahead of the visit. Swinney said: 'Our ambition is for Scotland to be a global leader in sustainable and regenerative agriculture. To do that we are working in partnership with the sector to transform the support we give to our farmers and crofters. 'The Royal Highland Show is our chance to showcase the absolute best of food produce, farming excellence and all of the industries that support our rural communities.' STV News John Swinney will be in attendance at the show. Meanwhile rural affairs secretary Mairi Gougeon used the first day of the event to announce a £14m scheme to provide grants to farmers will open next month. The programme – opening for applicants on July 14 – will provide capital funding for those new to agriculture, as well as young farmers, those with small operations and tenant farmers. The Future Farming Investment Scheme will provide cash for green projects and those which will increase efficiency, with up to £20,000 available – potentially as a 100% grant. The announcement comes as Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton called for more support for the sector. 'There is so much uncertainty facing Scottish agriculture amid the family farm tax, trade barriers, falling income and the squeeze placed on farmers by multinational supermarkets,' he said after visiting the Royal Highland Show on Thursday. He added: 'Throughout the Royal Highland Show, Liberal Democrats will be listening to farmers and producers, understanding the challenges they face and working out the best way forward. 'Our farmers are the best in the world. It's time both our governments recognised their invaluable contributions and backed a thriving future for Scottish agriculture.' UPDATE❗⌚ 10:45🛣️ Royal Highland Show (RHS) – Congestion UpdateThe EAST Car Park is now CLOSED. The Event Organiser's have advised to use the WEST car park, along the west A8, heading towards Newbridge. 📷Traffic Cameras: #RHS25 — Traffic Scotland (@trafficscotland) June 19, 2025 Edinburgh drivers were warned of significant road delays on Thursday as the Royal Highland Show got under way. Traffic Scotland and Lothian have issued updates to road and public transport users with considerable tailbacks reported on the A8, M9, M8 and M90 with visitors entering the showground at Ingliston. Lothian services including the 17, 18, 70 and 71 are all experiencing delays on the A8, the main route to the Royal Highland Centre. A service alert reads: 'Due to the Royal Highland Show at Ingliston buses are being delayed on the A8 Glasgow Road.' A similar alert has also been issued for buses serving the A89 Edinburgh Road including X18 and X19. Meanwhile Traffic Scotland warned: 'Royal Highland Show – Congestion Update. Significant delays of approx. 18 minutes from the #M90 Queensferry Crossing and from the #M8 from Livingston.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Edinburgh Reporter
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Reporter
Getting ready for the Highland Show
Scotland's largest outdoor event, The Royal Highland Show, opens its doors to more than 200,000 people over the next four days at the Royal Highland Centre at Ingliston, showcasing the very best in food, farming, rural life and entertainment, with children 15 and under going free. With a jam-packed schedule of activity planned, from traditional agricultural, sheepshearing, farrier and pole-climbing competitions, to axe throwing, mini (Land) rovers, a dedicated education hub run by RHET (Royal Highland Education Trust) with pizza building, cheese tasting and sushi rolling, a Tractor Ted stand in amongst all the giant machinery, a countryside area with circus performers and over 4,000 livestock animals, along with alpacas, donkeys and horses to see, the Show is a rural playground for children and adults alike. Royal Highland Show preparations. Laura Henry from Stride to Pride ponies at Kinshaldy Stables pony is Denim a Shetland – 20 years old Picture Alan Simpson 18/6/2025 Royal Highland Show preparations. Picture Alan Simpson 18/6/2025 Royal Highland Show preparations. Picture Alan Simpson 18/6/2025 Royal Highland Show preparations. Picture Alan Simpson 18/6/2025 Royal Highland Show preparations. Picture Alan Simpson 18/6/2025 Royal Highland Show preparations. Picture Alan Simpson 18/6/2025 Royal Highland Show preparations. Picture Alan Simpson 18/6/2025 Royal Highland Show preparations. Picture Alan Simpson 18/6/2025 Royal Highland Show preparations. Picture Alan Simpson 18/6/2025 Royal Highland Show preparations. Picture Alan Simpson 18/6/2025 Royal Highland Show preparations. A Suffolk Sheep being groomed Picture Alan Simpson 18/6/2025 Royal Highland Show preparations. A Suffolk Sheep Picture Alan Simpson 18/6/2025 Royal Highland Show preparations A 5 month old Ryland sheep Picture Alan Simpson 18/6/2025 Royal Highland Show preparations Haggis 3yr old Border Terrier and a 5 month old Ryland sheep Picture Alan Simpson 18/6/2025 Royal Highland Show preparations Picture Alan Simpson 18/6/2025 Like this: Like Related
Scotsman
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Excitement builds as The Farmers Son prepares for The Royal Highland Show
Next Wednesday, The Farmers Son team are packing up the van and setting off to Edinburgh for another year at The Royal Highland Show! Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The Royal Highland Show is Scotland's largest annual agricultural show, held at the Royal Highland Centre in Ingliston, and attracts a large number of exhibitors and visitors. The show is an annual event, showcasing the best of food, farming and rural life at Ingliston in Edinburgh from Thursday 19 - Sunday 22 June, 2025. The show has something for everyone, from competitions to shopping, live music and tasty food and drinks - It's the one place you can meet, touch, smell, taste and take home the best in the country. This year, The Farmers Son will have a stand (number SL B48) in Scotlands Larder. located in the Lowland Hall (accessed via East Gate). It's a must-see destination for all Foodies and a great place to meet local producers, taste the best of Scottish produce and discover artisan offerings from across the UK! The Farmers Son team will be cooking up their produce throughout the course of the show for passers-by to enjoy and they'll also have some exciting promotions and competitions happening! If you aren't heading to the show, then make sure to sign up to The Farmers Son's newsletter as not to miss out. However, the tasty samples go way beyond the stand.. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Farmers Son Black Pudding fry up Their products will also be featured throughout the weekend at the Food For Thought theatre where chefs such as Paul Terris will be cooking up delicious canapés and much more. They will also be paired with produce from companies such as Innis and Gunn and Lactalis and we are so excited to see what the team create! You can find the Food For Thought theatre in the centre of Scotland's Larder food hall and it's free to attend.
