• Introduction
  • Food Futures
  • Food Link Group
  • Food Link Van
• Projects
  • Events + Festivals
  • Other Projects
• Sectors
  • Horticulture
  • Local Meat

Other Projects

From 1998 to 2001, Skye and Lochalsh Enterprise in conjunction with a European Development Programme, LEADER II, ran an area-wide food and drink development and promotion project. Under the title Skye and Lochalsh Food and Drink Initiative, the programme included three key targets

• the establishment of a food and drink festival
• the design and production of a food and drink directory
• the design and production of a guide to eating out.

A number of other developments took place as a result of the Skye and Lochalsh Food and Drink Initiative. It Initiative was responsible, in partnership with the local food community, for driving forward a range of new products and development ideas.

Food & Drink Directory

One of the most important projects undertaken by the Initiative was 'The Skye and Lochalsh Food and Drink Directory'. This was a guide to locally produced food and drink which was distributed to all hotels and restaurants in the area, making it easier for them to source local produce when menu planning. The directory provided an opportunity for businesses to integrate locally produced food and drink into their menus. It also encouraged everyone to be aware of how to access this wonderful natural harvest on our doorstep.

Natural Harvests

The initiative also produced an eating out guide. The area boasts many high quality restaurants that use local food, many of them located in extraordinary and beautiful places. The Natural Harvests of Skye and Lochalsh was a local guide to the extensive wealth of locally grown and produced food and drink. It particularly promoted the quality of the local produce, ranging from jams to cheeses to vegetables to seafood and meat, as well as various kinds of drinks. The challenge of any type of directory or guide is that of maintaining its currency and both this guide and the directory became dated. However, the Taste Local website has addressed this ongoing need for current information.

Food and Learning Alliance

This partnership was established to promote local food and drink through linking various public and voluntary sector organisations such as the Local Learning Partnership, Highland Council Protective Services and the Health Promotion Unit of the local health board. The co-operation focused on specific areas or subjects such as food hygiene, better cross-sectoral communication, improved branding and promotion, and encouraging quality assurance.

Amongst other projects, the Alliance was responsible for the purchase of a mobile kitchen. This was used extensively throughout the area for demonstrations. These ranged from cookery demos held as part of the food festivals to teaching specific interest groups about cooking and food