Highlanders' love of local produce grew during coronavirus lockdown, probe finds as Quality Meat Scotland
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NEW research has been published claiming that people in the Highlands’ love of local produce grew during lockdown.
Over three quarters of respondents agreed that it is important to continue to support local suppliers as restrictions ease.
The probe was carried out by Censuswide on behalf of Scotch Lamb PGI.
It also highlighted that over a third of people from the Highlands increased their consumption from local suppliers since lockdown began and over half (58 per cent) intend to buy more from local suppliers as the nation emerges from lockdown.
The pandemic has also made consumers more switched-on as to where their food is coming from, with over half (56 per cent) of those surveyed agreeing they are more conscious of the traceability of their food.
“The past few months have seen many members of the red meat supply chain – from farmers and butchers, to auctioneers and processors – pivot their operations to meet new, and different, demand, and many consumers have relied heavily on local suppliers." - Lesley Cameron
The research coincides with Quality Meat Scotland’s – the industry body that runs the Scotch Lamb PGI brand – ‘Make It Scotch Lamb’ campaign, which aims to share the health, nutrition and sustainability messages surrounding one of Scotland’s most prized products.
Lesley Cameron, director of marketing and communications from Quality Meat Scotland said: “We’re thrilled that the majority of Scots intend to buy more locally produced products and continue their support as we adjust to a new era for the food and drink industry post-lockdown.
“The past few months have seen many members of the red meat supply chain – from farmers and butchers, to auctioneers and processors – pivot their operations to meet new, and different, demand, and many consumers have relied heavily on local suppliers.
“As the nation moves into its recovery period, this momentum must continue and we’d urge shoppers to look for the Scotch Lamb PGI label when next visiting a supermarket or butchers. This will directly support a Scottish farm and the wider supply chain while also providing reassurance that the lamb takes its quality and characteristics from a natural life grazing on the Scottish hills.”
With many households adjusting to spending more time indoors, the research revealed a shake-up in the kitchen observed over the past few months.More than a third of respondents from the Highlands (35 per cent) have been more experimental with their meals, and 27 per cent tried their hand at learning how to cook new dishes during lockdown.
Of the people surveyed who live with family members, over half are eating more together, and those with kids have been benefiting from an extra pair of helping hands in the kitchen, with 24 per cent indicating that their wee ones got more involved in meal prep and cooking.
To help beat mealtime boredom and provide inspiration for summer, a suite of new recipes using Scotch Lamb PGI is now available on the Scotch Kitchen website, www.scotchkitchen.com, suited to a variety of skillsets and including kid-friendly cookalongs.
Related: Think local plea to Ross-shire residents as lockdown eases
