Taste Scottish Borders Project Denise Walton Vice-Chair Scottish Borders Food Network Scottish Rural Network Conference 16/02/2010

Taste Scottish Borders LEADER Project Organisational Overview Aims and Objectives Projects Overview Future Projects

Scottish Borders Food Network Organisation Formed in December 2006 Formally constituted May 28 th 2008 Membership 61 (Similar level as Northumbria Larder who have been in existence since 2001) 24 Producers, 33 Providers & 3 Associates Grass roots organisation

Scottish Borders Food Network Aims and Objectives-I Promote local Borders food produce Provide a forum for member businesses (producers and providers) Improve and coordinate the supply and distribution of Scottish Borders’ food Make link between food and environment

Scottish Borders Food Network Aims and Objectives-II Facilitate continuing professional development for members Contribute to the sustainability of rural businesses Contribute to increasing tourism visits Link in with other Regional marketing initiatives Increase membership by increasing member benefits Represent the Region on food and food related policy groups both nationally and regionally

Taste Scottish Borders Project Funders/Partners:- LEADER, Scottish Borders Council, Border Union Agricultural Society, Berwickshire Housing Association, EventScotland, Awards for All and Scotland Food and Drink.

Taste Scottish Borders Projects Employ our first co-ordinator – Food Fair at Border Union Show–July 2009 & 2010 Borders Banquet–November 2009 Chefs Event–November 2009 & 2010 Commercial Plan–February 2010 Coordinated Produce Distribution–Feb Clustered Tourism Trails–Easter 2010 Taste Awards–Nov 2010 Improve Access to Local Food–Feb Network Marketing & promotion-ongoing

Taste Scottish Borders Project Local Products Directory and Development of website-Jun Evidence that visitors have used both in the past to find out more about member businesses.

Taste Scottish Borders Food Fair-Border Union Show – July 2009 More Borders Food businesses represented than at any time during the past. SBFN presence used to raise profile of both the network and it’s members

Taste Scottish Borders Project Chefs Event, Borders Lamb Seminar– November 2009 Delegates included chefs/restaurateurs from the Borders and Edinburgh, butchers and farmers/food producers Showcasing and networking opportunity Held in collaboration with Quality Meat Scotland.

Taste Scottish Borders Project Borders Banquet – November day Borders Banquet businesses promotion The Homecoming Weekend Kelso Farmers Market, SBFN Food Tours, Food Tourism Seminars and St Andrews Banquet.

Taste Scottish Borders Project Homecoming Borders Banquet promotion–Nov Borders wide producer & providers involved Survey Results 58% Homecoming played a major part in decision to visit the hotel or restaurant 78% Homecoming Borders Banquet increased their knowledge of local products 32% Visitors to area (68% local residents) 75% Rated Scottish Borders an excellent food destination

Taste Scottish Borders Project The SBFN Homecoming weekend-November 2009 Kelso Farmers Market, Food Tours, Seminar and Banquet. Over 30 businesses involved-taxi company to tourist attractions Over 25K injected into local economy Kelso Farmers Market–Demo by award winning writer and cook Sue Lawrence 65 attended and many others met Sue at the market.

Taste Scottish Borders Project The SBFN Homecoming weekend-November 2009 Food Tours, Seminar and Banquet. Food Tours, Seminar and Banquet 60 delegates attended – international visitors, travel journalists, food writers from Edinburgh & beyond, tour operators, academics and researchers, the head of the Scottish government food industry unit, as well as representatives from NFU Scotland, Scotland Food and Drink, Scottish Enterprise, Scottish Borders Council, VisitScotland and MSPs

Taste Scottish Borders Project Commercial Plan – February 2010 A key milestone To ensure network development and longevity by developing a project action plan and timeline to deliver LEADER based objectives within budget To increase scope, range and quantity of potential projects and funding beyond the end of the current project

Taste Scottish Borders Project Coordinated Produce Distribution–Feb Research to be undertaken to quantify scale of existing distribution range, quantities and methods with a view to developing a Borders Food Hub as a future project.

Taste Scottish Borders Project Improve Access to Local Food - Feb Working with Berwickshire Housing Association to help overcome the perception of expensive and difficult to prepare fresh and local foods. Phase 1 will focus on low-income households Phase two will open up project to wider local populace

Taste Scottish Borders Project Clustered Tourism Trail–Easter 2010 Work with the Crossing Borders Arts Trail to develop a Food and Arts trail initially within the Borders and to include links with ancestry and nature-based tourism Eg Walking routes to help strengthen links between landscape, food and culture.

Taste Scottish Borders Project Chefs Event – Easter 2010 With a focus on Food Tourism, showcase local products and their innovative use to food providing businesses from within and outwith the borders

Taste Scottish Borders Project Taste Awards–Nov 2010 To increase the profile of local food providers To encourage Borders business to use more local produce To promote the innovative and creative use of Borders products

Taste Scottish Borders Project Beyond 2011 Five-year Regional food strategy to enable Scottish Borders to compete effectively in the national food and drink sector Knowledge share/twinning project with the Friuli region. Address the shortage of regionally grown fruit and vegetables-possible partners:-School, Borders College, Borders Working-rite Development of marketing to create a clear link between food and the environment Continued development of partnership with regional housing authorities

Taste Scottish Borders Project Beyond 2011 (contd.) Development of cross borders links with North Northumberland and Cumbria Network development to include greater access to training & networking opportunities Marketing support for members Further development of the co-ordinated distribution of produce Development of the “Sensational Borders” theme i.e. Exploration of area through the five senses

Scottish Borders Food Network Taste Scottish Borders Project Thankyou For further information please contact Cathie Tinn–SBFN Coordinator