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Eating Scottish this Christmas
17/12/2008
Festive shoppers are being congratulated on 'thinking local' as they prepare this year's Christmas menus, with new figures showing that around three quarters of Scots seek out local ingredients when cooking.
Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment Richard Lochhead has celebrated a 'landmark year for Scottish food' with a call to remember fresh, seasonal produce during the festive season.
The reminder comes on the same day that new research, showing 75 per cent of people try to buy local ingredients when cooking, is published.
Mr Lochhead said:
"Since we launched the National Food Discussion, almost a year ago, interest in Scottish food has never been higher and today's research makes pleasing reading.
"Now, as we approach the time of year where interest in food generally tends to be at its highest, it marks a good opportunity to talk about local produce and what it can bring to Scottish Christmas dinners.
"All across Scotland we have great quality butchers, grocers, supermarkets and delicatessens stocking fresh, locally sourced food, including that Christmas staple - the turkey.
"Today's research also shows that 66 per cent of Scots plan to have a traditional turkey lunch, but there are plenty more options available.
"We are lucky to be the home of Scotch beef and lamb, with fantastic salmon and ham also widely produced in Scotland - also popular Christmas dishes.
"There are a number of traditional Christmas vegetables in season too, including carrots and the ever-popular brussel sprout.
"Buying locally has to be good for the environment in cutting down on food miles and helping the local economy."
"We must do all we can to continue to support Scotland's food and drink industry in the current economic climate, and with recent and upcoming investment from the Scottish Government, I hope that Scottish producers will take heart from today's figures.
"As we prepare to finalise the actions coming from Scotland's National Food and Drink Policy we will enhance Scotland's reputation as a land of food and drink."
Scottish Retail Consortium Director, Fiona Moriarty, said:
"Scotland grows and rears a world-leading variety of fresh produce and this Christmas we expect to see a real upturn in the volume of Scottish food on Scottish plates.
"Our members are working closely with suppliers to promote Scottish produce this Christmas, ensuring that customers have access to the widest possible range of quality Scottish produce."
Mark Bain, Head Chef at the Barcelo Stirling Highland Hotel added:
"Wherever possible, we source the finest ingredients from local growers and producers.
"Our experience is that local Scottish food is proving increasingly popular amongst our domestic and international guests, and we believe this is due to its high quality and the growing recognition that local, fresh food is both a healthier and more environmentally-sound choice."
Omnibus research was conducted by Progressive Scottish Opinion over the week beginning December 8, 2008. 1013 individuals were asked a number of questions and the answers included:
Will You Be Having a Traditional Turkey Lunch this Christmas?
- Yes 665 (66 per cent)
- No 251 (25 per cent)
- Don't celebrate Christmas 22 (2 per cent)
- Unsure 75 (7 per cent)
If Not, What Will You Be Having To Eat Instead?
- Chicken 43
- Steak pie 27
- Nut roast 13
- Ham 13
- Chinese food 11
- Lamb 8
- Gammon 6
- Goose 6
- Duck 6
- Pasta 2
- Other meat 65
- Other vegetarian 8
- Haven't decided yet 24
- Unsure 37
Are You Aware Of And Try To Buy Scottish Ingredients When You Cook (from 992 respondents)?
- Yes, always 391 (39 per cent)
- Yes, sometimes 352 (36 per cent)
- Rarely 108 (11 per cent)
- No, never 86 (9 per cent)
- Unsure 53 (5 per cent)
Local breakdowns of responses to questions
Will You Be Having a Traditional Turkey Lunch this Christmas?
| Central | Dumfries | Fife | Grampian | Highlands & Islands | Lothian & Borders | Strathclyde | Tayside |
| Yes | 79% | 70% | 62% | 73% | 72% | 54% | 67% | 63% |
| No | 19% | 17% | 28% | 20% | 19% | 35% | 23% | 27% |
| Don't celebrate Xmas | - | 3% | - | 2% | - | 4% | 3% | - |
| Unsure | 2% | 10% | 10% | 4% | 9% | 7% | 7% | 11% |
If Not, What Will You Be Having To Eat Instead?
| Central | Dumfries | Fife | Grampian | Highlands & Islands | Lothian & Borders | Strathclyde | Tayside |
| Ham | 10% | - | 6% | - | - | 9% | 5% | - |
| Chinese | - | - | 10% | 11% | - | 6% | 3% | - |
| Pasta | - | - | - | - | - | 3% | 1% | - |
| Goose | 11% | 22% | 6% | - | 11% | - | 1% | - |
| Lamb | - | - | - | - | 9% | 3% | 4% | 6% |
| Gammon | 11% | - | 2% | - | - | 3% | 2% | - |
| Duck | - | - | 6% | - | 13% | 1% | 2% | - |
| Chicken | 10% | 34% | 17% | 17% | 36% | 14% | 14% | 28% |
| Steak pie | 20% | - | 11% | 5% | - | 5% | 12% | 31% |
| Nut roast | - | - | 5% | 6% | - | 10% | 4% | 5% |
| Other vegetarian | - | 15% | - | - | 5% | 2% | 4% | 5% |
| Other meat | 35% | 11% | 34% | 23% | 29% | 25% | 26% | 16% |
| Haven't decided | 13% | 5% | 6% | 11% | - | 14% | 11% | - |
| Unsure | - | 13% | 6% | 26% | 9% | 13% | 18% | 13% |
Are You Aware Of And Try To Buy Scottish Ingredients When You Cook?
| Central | Dumfries | Fife | Grampian | Highlands & Islands | Lothian & Borders | Strathclyde | Tayside |
| Yes, always | 53% | 20% | 33% | 45% | 59% | 30% | 39% | 43% |
| Yes, sometimes | 29% | 29% | 46% | 32% | 29% | 42% | 35% | 35% |
| Rarely | 10% | 17% | 10% | 11% | 2% | 13% | 11% | 12% |
| No, never | 6% | 19% | 18% | 3% | 4% | 11% | 10% | 6% |
| Unsure | 1% | 15% | 3% | 9% | 5% | 5% | 6% | 4% |