Food sustainability takes centre stage at Scottish Game Fair 2019
The GWCT Scottish Game Fair 2019 will be a “true celebration of the land”, say organisers.
From foraging, seasonality and reducing food miles, visitors to the 31st Scottish Game Fair will learn how Scotland’s top chefs and food brands are going above and beyond to ensure sustainability is always on the menu.
Now in its 31st year, the Scottish Game Fair, which is in association with NFU Mutual, is preparing to welcome thousands of people to the event at Scone Palace Parklands over three days, July 5th, 6th and 7th. The event is the largest fundraiser of the year for Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust in Scotland.
The Fair’s Food Hall is a huge pull for visitors and will this year welcome 50 traders, including wonderful oysters from Loch Fyne, seafood from Oban and the Outer Hebrides and honey from the Lothians. Meanwhile top chefs Richard Dalgleish from Gleneagles and Tom Lewis from Monachyle Mhor will be showing off their culinary skills and green credentials at the always-popular Cookery Theatre.
Visitors are encouraged to attend talks on countryside living in Scotland and how to make the most of the nation’s wild produce with Xanthe Clay former President of Guild of Food Writers, and Ghillie Basan author of Spirit and Spice.
Christopher Trotter, organiser of the Fair’s Food Hall and Cookery Theatre said: “We are particularly proud of the sheer variety and quality of the people we have assembled in the Food Hall this year. Many vendors are from the surrounding region helping us with our local and sustainable message.
“There is everything here for you to create a great meal, or simply to buy for supper to have on your return home. Many of the stall holders are the business owners themselves so it’s a great opportunity to ask questions and engage with possibly the finest selection of food producers at any show in Scotland.”
Sustainability is also a firm focus elsewhere at the Fair. Bruce Russell, Director of GWCT in Scotland, explains: “There is ever increasing interest in, and awareness of our environment and natural world, particularly among the younger generation. Climate change is a very real and live issue and safeguarding our crowded planet is of increasing concern to all. Game and wildlife conservation are very much part of this. Our rural environment has been largely shaped by humans and there needs to be an element of management to maintain a balance within the countryside, and to protect the more vulnerable species.”
