The Highland Good Food Partnership is the Regional Food Group for the Highlands. But what does that actually mean?
by Martin Sherring, Trustee of the Highland Good Food Partnership
The Regional Food Groups are a network of local organisations, representing food and drink businesses. Highland Good Food Partnership has been the Regional Food Group for the Highlands since we started in 2021.
The network is managed by Scotland Food & Drink, and funded by the Scottish Government. The task of the Regional Food Groups is to “enable sustainable growth and collaboration in local, Scottish markets”. That is certainly an aspiration we share, but we also want to do more.
We want food to be produced and distributed in ways that are better for our health, and better for the environment. This is reflected in our diverse membership, whereas most of the other Regional Food Groups’ members are all food and drink businesses.
As part of our Regional Food Group role, each year we agree with Scotland Food & Drink a range of activities we will be working on. This year that includes:
- Developing a local food culture in the Highlands. This year we developed the Black Isle FEAST; a weekend festival of local food, and we enjoyed a visit to Taste of Nairn earlier in the year. We’re keen to help similar events throughout the Highlands. If you’re involved in a Highland local food event yourself, or interested in helping set one up, do get in touch.
- Helping growers who are interested in switching to more environmentally-sensitive methods. We are impressed with Propagate’s Regenerative Farming Network in SW Scotland. This started as a group of 20 growers and has now grown to 250 – and we’d love to see something similar in the Highlands. In October, we went on a learning exchange to Dumfries and Galloway. We met Abi Mordin of the Propagate network, and some of their members.
- Strengthening relationships between Highland producers and buyers. With the Black Isle FEAST, restaurants featured the great produce on their doorsteps. But we think there’s still scope for hospitality businesses – and other buyers – to use and promote our great local producers. At the moment we’re working on this in collaboration with Visit Loch Ness/ Inverness – and hope to work with other parts of the Highlands.
- Promoting more of our food businesses. We’re working with five Highland food and drink producers to give them some more exposure – and will be looking to do more of this. If you are interested in being featured, let us know – and if you become a business member (for free), you can also feature on our Highland Good Food map.