Crisis has underlined importance of local produce, says Gail Ross
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Caithness, Sutherland and Ross MSP Gail Ross has asked the Scottish Government what support it will be providing to the farming and crofting sector in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Speaking during a ministerial statement on providing financial stability for farmers and crofters, the SNP MSP said the coronavirus crisis had underlined the importance of local produce.
She told the rural economy secretary Fergus Ewing: “If the pandemic has shown us anything, it is the importance of local produce, local short supply chains, and shops and supermarkets stocking Scottish-branded produce… we should all be buying Scottish where we can. Can he tell me what support the Scottish Government is giving to the sector to ensure that that happens?”
Mr Ewing replied: “We have been pressing the retail sector with a number of specific asks, including a commitment to a ‘Scottish first’ policy and 100 per cent sourcing of Scottish produce, with the Scotch Beef, Scotch Lamb and Specially Selected Pork brands being at the top of our list. We have good relations with retailers, some of whom do an awful lot for the sector. However, others could do an awful lot more, so we are working with them positively to secure that.
“Let me also put in a word for our independent butchers, who, as many of us will agree, supply products that are particularly well prepared, attractive and tasty. I do not want us to neglect that fact.
“We support the good work that is done by Scotland Food and Drink and through Quality Meat Scotland’s 'Make it' marketing campaign, which encourages more consumption of our excellent Scottish products.”
Mr Ewing had earlier confirmed that more than 95 per cent of all Common Agricultural Policy payments have now been made, which has delivered more than half a billion pounds into the sector.
Some 7000 specialist beef producers benefited from payments worth around £40 million during the height of the lockdown and a further 469 convergence payments worth £768,500 were processed in April, mainly for new entrants to farming.
