Food Link background.
Many years of surveys, meetings, community consultations, and feasibility studies all come up with the same conclusion, “That there are lots of people around the north west Sutherland coast who want to purchase fresh, locally grown produce”. The North West Sutherland Food Link was established in the spring of 2006 to make these aspirations a reality.
The objectives of the NWS Food Link are:
* To stimulate local food production by establishing a co-operative group of food producers along the coast from Lochinver to Melvich.
* To develop a market by creating links between local producers and consumers.
* Provide a local food distribution service .
* To stimulate local economy’s by recycling cash within communities.
* To displace unnecessary imported horticultural products.
* Promote Healthy eating.
* Sustain the activities of its members through training, technical advice, collective purchasing and mutual support.
We principally sell fruit, vegetables, other horticulture products, eggs, and value added produce such as preserves. The Food Link trades through a Market stall, but, through experience, we found that transporting fresh produce up to 150 miles was very time consuming, and costly. It was decided in 2009 to concentrate on small "local" sales, while still attending major events. A stall was held in Scourie on a fortnightly basis, but it is planned to hold this weekly in 2010.
Our experience to date is that we can find a market for whatever we produce. Our main problem is obtaining sufficient produce to meet demand. The stall is our way of making a market for local produce, but it is also an advertisement for local food. We are constantly being approached by business and individuals looking to purchase fresh local produce directly from producers and we are happy to facilitate this. Being a member of the Food Link does not oblige you to sell your goods through the stall, our main priority is to increase the quantity (and quality) of fresh food available in the area and we are happy to help anyone trying to do this regardless of whether you are a member of the Food Link Producer Group.
Currently the Food Link is operating under the umbrella of Norcelt, the North Coast Community Enterprise Company based in Skerray. The long term plan is to build an independent, sustainable Producers Group run by its members. We would like wish every one participating in this new venture lots of luck.
The objectives of the NWS Food Link are:
* To stimulate local food production by establishing a co-operative group of food producers along the coast from Lochinver to Melvich.
* To develop a market by creating links between local producers and consumers.
* Provide a local food distribution service .
* To stimulate local economy’s by recycling cash within communities.
* To displace unnecessary imported horticultural products.
* Promote Healthy eating.
* Sustain the activities of its members through training, technical advice, collective purchasing and mutual support.
We principally sell fruit, vegetables, other horticulture products, eggs, and value added produce such as preserves. The Food Link trades through a Market stall, but, through experience, we found that transporting fresh produce up to 150 miles was very time consuming, and costly. It was decided in 2009 to concentrate on small "local" sales, while still attending major events. A stall was held in Scourie on a fortnightly basis, but it is planned to hold this weekly in 2010.
Our experience to date is that we can find a market for whatever we produce. Our main problem is obtaining sufficient produce to meet demand. The stall is our way of making a market for local produce, but it is also an advertisement for local food. We are constantly being approached by business and individuals looking to purchase fresh local produce directly from producers and we are happy to facilitate this. Being a member of the Food Link does not oblige you to sell your goods through the stall, our main priority is to increase the quantity (and quality) of fresh food available in the area and we are happy to help anyone trying to do this regardless of whether you are a member of the Food Link Producer Group.
Currently the Food Link is operating under the umbrella of Norcelt, the North Coast Community Enterprise Company based in Skerray. The long term plan is to build an independent, sustainable Producers Group run by its members. We would like wish every one participating in this new venture lots of luck.
