Scottish Food On Show In Berlin

Dumfries & Galloway's food group, Savour the Flavours, is representing Scotland on the EU stand at International Green Week in Berlin from tomorrow. Green Week is the world's biggest fair for food, agriculture and horticulture and runs from the 25th - 27th January.

Savour the Flavours is presenting on the EU stand as an example of best practise in rural development. The organisation will give a short presentation, screen videos of artisan producers, promote the annual food festival Flavour Fortnight and will sample Dumfries & Galloway food and drink, including award winning local whisky and champion haggis to reflect the Burns Night timing of the event. 

Savour the Flavours is funded by an EU grant via LEADER and by Dumfries & Galloway Council, with in-kind support from Dumfries & Galloway's food and drink industry, and the organisation is now recognised as one of Scotland's most effective food and drink networks.

Liz Ramsay, Project Manager of Savour the Flavours, will be joined in Berlin by Chris Harrison of Waulkmill Cider Orchard, Scotland's only traditional still cider maker.  

Liz Ramsay said: "We are absolutely delighted to be attending such a prestigious event and to be asked to represent Scotland's LEADER programme in this way is quite an honour. We are thrilled that the work that Savour the Flavours has done over the past three years is being recognised.

"This is a fantastic opportunity to showcase Dumfries & Galloway's delicious local larder to people who are passionate about food and we will make absolutely sure that Scotland is well represented at this major European event."

The Scottish Government's Rural Affairs Secretary Richard Lochhead said: "Scotland's fine produce is increasingly sought after on the world stage thanks to the high quality of our natural larder. Our growing food and drink sector provides valuable employment in rural parts of Scotland - such as Dumfries and Galloway - as well as making an important contribution to the nation's finances.

"I've met many food and drink producers from Dumfries and Galloway and I'm pleased that the tremendous contribution made by them and Savour the Flavours has been recognised in this way.  I'm sure they will fly the flag for Scotland as they showcase the importance of rural development funding to other European countries."

Councillor Ian Carruthers Chair of Dumfries & Galloway Council's Planning, Housing and Environment Committee said: "I am delighted that Savour the Flavours has been asked to attend this event, it is without doubt recognition of the hard work that the organisation does on behalf of the food producers of Dumfries and Galloway. Our council works closely with Savours to support the food and drink sector and the opportunity to highlight the region's producers and products is recognition of all those efforts."