Scotty Brand has welcomed the start of its potato and Scottish strawberry season in Ayrshire. The company has great sales hopes after the number of Scots buying local vegetables has increased. A recent study shows that 12 percent more shoppers in Scotland are buying local vegetables than before the pandemic. About 60 percent now believe it is important to have local vegetables available when shopping for groceries.
Michael Jarvis, Scotty Brand’s Marketing Director, said, “June is an exciting time on the Scotty calendar as our Ayrshires and strawberries hit shelves this weekend. Ayrshires are considered to be one of the best in the world, which is why they were awarded PGI status in 2019. We never really shout about the Scottish weather, but the temperate conditions in Scotland make our fruit ripen a little slower, which means that our strawberries taste sweeter and juicier.”
According to Lucy Husband, Director of Market Development and Business Engagement at Scotland Food & Drink, it has been a difficult but equally important year for fruit and vegetable producers in Scotland, as more consumers choose to shop locally.
She told dailygardeningnews.com: “The number of buyers who place great value on buying local products has increased significantly. When buying fruit and vegetables, consumers pay attention not only to the quality and seasonality of the available products, but also to the environmental impact and sustainability. All of this, coupled with the desire to eat seasonally and to support local producers, will hopefully continue to encourage purchases from the region in the future.”
The first harvest of Ayrshire potatoes heralds the start of the new potato season in Scotland, and according to Scotty Brand, Ayrshire offers ideal growing conditions. This is mainly due to the region’s light sandy soil and sheltered beaches, which benefit from the Gulf Stream and allow farmers to plant their crops a few weeks earlier.