Thursday 11th June 2009

NEW FOOD GRANTS BEAR FRUIT



Local MP, Mike Weir, has expressed his delight after two local food producers were awarded grants from the Scottish Government’s latest round of the Food Processing, Marketing & Co-operation Grants (FPMC) scheme.



Grants over £625,000 have been awarded to Angus from a total of £2.1 million which Mr Weir feels will put even more local produce on menus and dinner tables in the county and throughout Scotland.



“Angus is renowned for its excellent produce and in Scotland total funding to date of £16 million under the scheme has already created over 240 new jobs and safeguarded a further 2,400.



”More and more people
want to know where their food has come from and how far it has travelled and local producers, Stirling Potatoes and Angus Soft Fruits, have been granted awards to assist in purchasing new machinery to meet this growing demand for local produce.



“This latest round of
grant funding is expected to generate additional investment in excess of £50 million in the food and drink sector in Scotland and I am pleased that local producers around Angus are being recognised for their quality produce.”



ENDS