- 60% of Scottish Shoppers want locally grown fruit and vegetables available on the shelves
- Over 10% increase in Scots buying locally grown vegetables since the start of the pandemic
SCOTTY Brand, provider of premium seasonal Scottish produce, is excited to launch and celebrate the start of both the new Ayrshire potato and Scottish Strawberry season, as research shows that 6 in 10 Scottish shoppers believe it is important to have local vegetables available when grocery shopping.
With more people cooking more meals at home over the past year, the survey also reveals that there has been an increase in the number of Scottish shoppers buying local vegetables (+12%) since the start of the pandemic.
Commenting on the start of the new season, Michael Jarvis, head of marketing for Scotty Brand, said: “June is an exciting time in the Scotty calendar with our Ayrshires and strawberries hitting the shelves this weekend. Scotty Brand Ayrshire potatoes are the first and finest new potatoes grown in Scotland. In fact, Ayrshires are regarded as among the best in the world which is why they were granted PGI status in 2019.
“We never really shout about the Scottish weather, but the temperate conditions in Scotland allow our fruit to ripen at a slightly slower rate which results in our strawberries tasting sweeter and juicier.”
“As more people continue to cook more meals at home here at Scotty Brand we welcome that shoppers are supporting the Scottish food industry by buying Scottish products when they can.”
Lucy Husband, Market Development and Business Engagement Director at Scotland Food & Drink, said: “It has been difficult, but an equally important, year for fruit and vegetable producers in Scotland, with more and more consumers choosing to buy locally. We’ve seen a significant increase in the number of shoppers who are putting high importance on buying local produce. As well as recognising the quality and seasonality of produce available, consumers are considering the environmental impacts and sustainability when they buy fruit and vegetables.
“All of this, coupled with the desire to eat seasonally and support local producers, we hope, will continue to make the case strong for buying local in the future.”
Location Location Location!
The first yield of Ayrshire potatoes heralds the start of the new potato season. And it’s the Ayrshire location that provides the ideal growing conditions. This is mainly due to Ayrshire’s light sandy soil and sheltered beaches which benefit from the warming waters of the Gulf Stream, allowing farmers in Ayrshire to be able to plant their crop a few weeks earlier.
And Scotty Brand strawberries also benefit from their location. Grown and packed by Bruce Farms, based in Perthshire, the light, fertile soil, long summer days and mild nights provide the best conditions for growing sweet, juicy berries.
Scotty Brand strawberries come in 300g punnets and will be available throughout Scotland in Asda stores. Scotty Brand Ayrshire potatoes are widely available in selected Asda, Co-Op, Lidl, Spar, Tesco and Waitrose stores in Scotland.
