Our Trustee Katie Andrews makes connections at Nairn’s annual food festival – Taste of Nairn
On a bright, sunny morning, I travelled from Inverness to Nairn to attend the ‘Taste of Nairn’ Saturday event. I was keen to connect with some food and drink businesses in Highland and promote the Highland Good Food Partnership. I started in the Community and Arts Centre, where stalls filled the room displaying home-baked goods, fresh fruit and vegetables, vegan pastries, and much more. My first thought was, where do I begin?!
As I made my way through the room, I was drawn to Loch Ness Honey. I shared with them the story of the Highland Good Food Partnership and our map, a testament to the vibrant food activity across the Highlands. They, in turn, shared their own story – a business with over 100 bee colonies spanning from Inverness to Moray. Their passion for their craft was clear. Next, I met Craig from the Ord Oak Smokehouse, a man on a mission to promote sustainable fishing and inspire the next generation to join the industry. I sampled their smoked mackerel pate, a true delight!
After chatting with some more people in the Centre, I decided to meander down Nairn High Street, where the sun was shining and stalls lined the car-less streets – a real treat!! I saw some of Highland Good Food’s existing members, including Rose Cottage Country Kitchen. I was then joined by fellow HGFP Trustee, Sarah. We continued down the High Street speaking with some potential new members, including the Isle of Skye Baking Company. We bumped in Lucy, Nairn BID Manager, and congratulated her on a fantastic event!
On our way back to the Centre, we chatted with Macleod Organics, one of the Highland Good Food Partnership’s supporters (and a guest on our recent podcast episode) and long-standing members. We spoke with Judy, who told us about the company’s exciting transition to a Cooperative!
I needed to head off, but Sarah took a couple of HGFP business cards and walked down to Nairn Beach and the Pavilion, where there were more activities taking place. I treated myself to one of the Vegan Skinhead’s haggis sausage rolls, a perfect lunchtime indulgence.
What a fantastic morning, it was great to see so many people connecting with local businesses and enjoying local, sustainable food. There was a real sense of community when wandering through the stalls and hearing the buzz of people enjoying themselves in the sun. Congratulations again to Lucy and the team for putting on a truly brilliant event. I can’t wait for the next one!