A MAJOR SPEYSIDE festival this summer has received vital backing from a fund set up to support projects and events that encourage people to appreciate local produce.
Organisers of what is being billed as the region’s largest birthday party ever have welcome the £6000 funding to be used to help the celebration of Grantown’s 250th Birthday.
Moray’s MSP and the Cabinet Secretary for Food, Richard Lochhead, confirmed the funding which will be used to help host the ‘Regality Food Fair’ which will form part of the week-long celebration next month.
Mr Lochhead said: “I’m delighted to confirm that more local food and drink initiatives are benefiting from this latest round of Community Food Fund awards.
“This is the most money ever given out in a single round of CFF awards – taking the total amount of funding awarded to £739,476, distributed among 109 initiatives.
“We had 39 applications overall during this funding phase – the most we’ve had since CFF began – which is extremely encouraging as it shows more communities are working towards getting access to, and enjoying, the fresh, seasonal, nutritious, and local food and drink we produce here in Scotland.
“During the Year of Food and Drink it is particularly essential that people take advantage of our fantastic natural larder in order to achieve our ambition of becoming a Good Food Nation. Congratulations to all initiatives that have received an award in this round.”
Organising the Food Fair is Bill Sadler: “We are delighted to receive this boost in funds for the Regality Food Fair which will showcase the range and diversity of food and drink in the area and how it has evolved over the past 250 years.
“The Community Food Fund’s criteria was a good match for our event which will focus very heavily on local produce.”
The Regality Food Fair takes place on Wednesday 24 June from 11am to 4pm. More details are available from www.grantown250.org.