First Minister Alex Salmond today hailed the continued success of the Turriff Show in supporting the rural economy and promoting quality Scottish produce, as he officially opened a new exhibition hall at this year’s event.
The First Minister also toured a number of stands and exhibits, including the Food Fayre. The Fayre has been supported this year with £3,000 through the ‘Scotland’s Year of Food and Drink’ initiative – the first in a series of Focus Years building on the Year of Homecoming and highlighting some of Scotland’s great assets.
First Minister Alex Salmond today hailed the continued success of the Turriff Show in supporting the rural economy and promoting quality Scottish produce, as he officially opened a new exhibition hall at this year’s event.
The First Minister also toured a number of stands and exhibits, including the Food Fayre. The Fayre has been supported this year with £3,000 through the ‘Scotland’s Year of Food and Drink’ initiative – the first in a series of Focus Years building on the Year of Homecoming and highlighting some of Scotland’s great assets.
Organised by Turriff District Agricultural Association, the ‘Turra Show’ is the largest annual event to be held in Aberdeenshire and the largest two-day Show in Scotland.
The First Minister said: “The Turra Show continues to go from strength to strength and it is a real pleasure to witness another wonderful and varied showcase of all that is great about the rural economy in the North East.
“The new Exhibition Hall marks a major investment for this charitable organisation and it has been supported by Aberdeenshire Council through the LEADER programme, that brings together Scottish Government and European funding. This wonderful new facility is testament to the ambition, confidence and growing success of the Turriff Show and the wider community. It has already been used for local events including a young farmers rally and a Relay for Life fundraiser.
“I’m delighted that through our Year of Food and Drink, EventScotland has been able to support the promotion of local produce in the Food Fayre marquee. In the past three years sales of Scottish food and drink brands across Great Britain have risen by 30 per cent, increasing the value of sales by £425 million. At the same time sales of Scottish produce in Scotland increased by 22 per cent. Our Year of Food and Drink aims to drive that forward that success story further still and the Turriff Show provides a fantastic showcase of quality Scottish fayre.
Bruce Ferguson, Secretary of the Turriff District Agricultural Association, said: “The Turriff Show is the shop window for agriculture in the North East of Scotland with some of the best livestock in the country competing for the honours. Over 300 trade stands at the Show help promote the agricultural industry, which plays a major role in the north-east economy. The Association is also proud to be supporting the ‘Scotland’s Year of Food and Drink’ initiative and to have such an excellent range of local food and drink stands at the Show.”
VisitScotland Chairman Mike Cantlay added: “The Turriff Show is an institution in the North East, which is loved and enjoyed by visitors and local residents alike. It is a fantastic showcase for Scotland’s agriculture and food industries. I am delighted that EventScotland funding for Scotland’s Year of Food and Drink is enabling the show to focus even more on the fantastic local produce on offer.”